KCB, Kabras, and Kenya Harlequin cruise into Driftwood Sevens quarters
KCB Rugby sent a strong message at the Driftwood Sevens in Mombasa after storming into the quarterfinals with dominant victories in their Pool C matches.
The bankers opened their campaign with a 24-14 win over Daystar Falcons before thrashing hosts Mombasa SC 43-0 to finish top of their group and book a place in Sunday’s knockouts.
In their first game, Festus Shiasi put KCB ahead with a try on the left wing, before former Kenya Sevens captain Vincent Onyala extended the lead to 12-0.
Daystar Falcons hit back through Patrick Odongo, who grabbed two tries to put them 14-12 ahead early in the second half. However, Floyd Wabwire, a former Daystar player, restored KCB’s lead with a try before Shiasi struck again to seal the 24-14 win.
The second match was even more one-sided. Wabwire opened the scoring and added another as KCB raced to a 14-0 lead. Jenkis Kipruto extended the advantage with a chip-and-chase try to make it 19-0 at halftime.
In the second half, Emmanuel Opondo, Bob Muhati, debutant Dominic Sande, and Elvis Olukusi all touched down as KCB sealed a 43-0 victory and maximum points.
Defending champions Kenya Harlequin also secured their place in the quarters with back-to-back wins. Quins edged KU Blak Blad 14-7 in their opening game before easing past Mwamba RFC 17-0 in their second outing.
The victories marked a positive start for the Nairobi side, who are adjusting to life without coach Paul Murunga following his recent departure.
Western giants Kabras Sugar were equally impressive, overpowering Nakuru RFC 26-0 in their first game and following it up with a 21-7 win over Impala RFC.
Kabras’ ruthless defense and clinical finishing saw them through comfortably as they chase their second title in this year’s National Sevens Circuit.
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) continued their rise with two hard-fought wins that booked them a quarterfinal spot.
They beat Mwamba 14-10 in a tense opener and followed up with a 14-7 triumph over KU Blak Blad to finish their pool unbeaten.
MMUST head coach John Asila expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete with the country’s top sides heading into the knockouts.
“We came here with a plan to grow game by game, and the boys have shown great character,” Asila said. “Our target is to reach the semis, but we know every match now will be tougher. The key is to stay focused and keep improving with every game.”
Strathmore Leos also cruised through their pool matches, beating Kabarak University 28-0 and Stallions Rugby 26-0 to underline their attacking flair. Menengai Oilers joined them after overcoming Stallions 19-0 and edging Kabarak 19-14 in a thrilling contest.
Nondescripts RFC bounced back from last weekend’s struggles to reach the quarters with wins over Mombasa SC (19-0) and Daystar Falcons (10-7).
Catholic Monks, meanwhile, impressed in their opener with a 15-0 win over Impala RFC but fell 24-0 to Nakuru, leaving them outside the top eight.
The quarterfinal lineup promises mouthwatering clashes as KCB, Kabras Sugar, and Kenya Harlequin look to continue their perfect runs, while MMUST and Strathmore Leos aim to upset the big names. The knockouts will be played on Sunday at the Mombasa Sports Club grounds.