Kabras Sugar managed to maintain their position at the summit of the National 7s Circuit standings, despite securing a third-place finish in the fourth leg of the thrilling 2023 campaign.
Under the astute guidance of Coach Felix Ayange, the Kabras side exhibited unwavering resilience, bouncing back from a narrow 7-5 loss to triumph over Nakuru RFC with a 19-12 victory.
Kabras RFC vs Nakuru
With the performance, they managed to collect 17 crucial points, effectively securing their place atop the leaderboard with an impressive 80 points.
This comes on the back of three final appearances and one bronze finish in the current season.
In the showdown against Nakuru RFC, the Sugarmen demonstrated their mettle on the field, securing a halftime advantage of 14-7 thanks to the exceptional contributions of Lamec Ambetsa, who secured two pivotal tries.
Nakuru RFC, however, proved to be formidable opponents, promptly responding with a try by Javan Otieno, coupled with a successful conversion, equalizing the scores at 7-7.
Kabras second stretch lead
Nonetheless, Kabras Sugar reestablished their dominance before halftime, as Ambetsa showcased his attacking prowess by evading the defense to score a crucial centre-post try. This successful conversion extended their lead to 14-7 at the halftime whistle.
The second half saw Nakuru RFC narrowing the deficit with a try by Habakkuk Ouma, although the conversion attempt, unfortunately, went wide.
A stroke of luck favored Kabras Sugar once again, with a fortuitous bounce of the ball granting Ambetsa the opportunity to seize possession and sprint to the corner for his third try of the match, securing a decisive 19-12 lead.
Meanwhile, fierce rivals KCB maintained their pursuit of Kabras Sugar’s top spot, securing a remarkable 17-12 victory in the Christie 7s title clash, earning 22 vital points and reducing the gap to just two points.
How KCB won Christie
In a captivating duel, Strathmore exhibited an impressive start, as Gabriel Ayimba breached the defense and scored a try at the corner, securing a commendable five points.
KCB’s rapid response ensued, with Brian Wahinya executing a centre-post try and successfully converting it, amassing seven points and prompting jubilation among their supporters.
Continuing to build on their momentum, KCB extended their lead as Festus Shiasi added a try to their tally, propelling them to a commanding 12-5 advantage.
Despite Strathmore Leos’ second-half efforts to mount a comeback, KCB’s sturdy defense held strong. KCB further solidified their lead as Vincent Onyala landed a vital try, securing a hard-fought 17-12 victory.
With this triumph, KCB solidified their second-place standing, successfully narrowing the gap to a mere two points, in a compelling race for the coveted top spot.
The Strathmore Leos have made a resounding impact, solidifying their presence on the National 7s Circuit leaderboard with an impressive third-place standing, amassing 63 points.
In the closely contested standings, Kenya Harlequin occupy the fourth spot with 58 points
Meanwhile, reigning champions Menengai Oilers have experienced a shift in their fortunes, slipping to fifth place with 56 points.
As the defending titleholders, the Menengai Oilers face the challenge of regaining their dominance and defending their legacy against a backdrop of fierce competition.
