St Paul’s Gekano retained the Nyamira County Secondary Schools Sports Association rugby 15’s title for the fourth consecutive year after a hard-fought 15-5 win over hosts St Kizito, Nyansiongo, on Friday.
Dalton Momanyi touched down twice for Gekano while William Nyagiro added the third for Gekano in the tension-packed match. Joshua Onkoba scored Nyansiongo’s try.
In the semis, Gekano overcame Nyakongo Boys 8-6 while Nyansiongo edged Enkinda 8-6. Enkinda finished third and Nyagokiani fourth.
Gekano will represent Nyamira at the Nyanza Region Secondary Schools Sports Association Term One Games to be held at Kisumu School on March 19 to 23.
Speaking after retaining the title, Gekano coach Dennis Ndemo said: “The levels of rugby in the county have improved tremendously. The matches were closely contested from the preliminary rounds to the finals.”
“We want to improve on last year’s quarter-final finish at the regional games. We target the semis even though the competition at the regionals is tough. We want to raise the Nyamira flag high. I want to thank our principal, Henry Manoti, for supporting the team,” added Ndemo.
Gekano’s Head of Sports Department Ongwenyi Wilfred said: “We are going to Kisumu for serious business. We are going to compete not just participate.”
Rugby Commissar Joseph Onyoni said the standards of the game have improved.
“This is the first time we are having nine teams at the county level. We had six last year. We expect more teams to participate in the rugby 7s in Term Two,” he said.
Manga Girls sailed to the girls’ basketball final after a hard-fought 22-19 win over Gekano Girls in the first semifinal. Manga will face Mokomoni Mixed in the final. Mokomoni saw off Enkinda 20-4 in the other semifinal.
In the boy’s category, Ekenyoro beat Enkinda 26-19 in the first semifinal. The second semifinal between hosts and favourites Nyansiongo edged Mwongori 28-09.
