Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) rugby
15s champions All Saints Embu and Upper Hill School have qualified for the semifinals of the ongoing games in Kakamega.
All Saints
Embu, coached by Benson Mwendwa, progressed to the semifinals after a hard-fought 13-10 win over compatriots Kisii School at the Bull Ring in Kakamega. Kisii led
7-3 at the break.
Isaac Mageto
gave Kisii the lead with Matrix Matangi completing the extras. Josephat Karanja
scored a penalty for All Saints as the game went into the break.
In the highly charged second half, Matangi extended Kisii's lead with a penalty before Wayne Rooney scored a try, which was converted by Karanja.
Ayik Ajok scored a
last-gasp penalty to give All Saints the win.
“It was a
great win for us. It was a closely contested game. We won narrowly but the boys
gave their all because they needed the win more,” said Mwenda.
“We are now in the semis and our focus is on the final. We are here to retain our title.”
All Saints will conclude their group stage matches on Monday against
King's College Buddo.
Kisii’s Edwin Morara attributed the loss to lapses in concentration.
“It was a tense
game. We accept the outcome. We must rise to the occasion in the next game,”
added Morara.
Kisii will
play Busoga College in their final group stage game on Monday and must win for
them to qualify for the semifinals.
Upper Hill School
beat Uganda’s Namilyango College 34-8 to also qualify for the semifinals after
winning their second game.
In other games
played on Sunday, King's College Buddo beat Busoga College 37-8 in an all-Ugandan affair.
In rugby 7s,
St Peter’s Mumias enhanced their chances of winning the regional title after
recording their fourth win of the competition following a comprehensive 40-5 victory
over Gitisi from Rwanda while Bungoma High School also won their fourth
consecutive game after beating St Mary’s College Kisubi 25-5.
Former East
Africa champions Koyonzo High walloped Mbarara High School 33-0.
St Peter’s
Mumias and Bungoma High are now favourites to lift the 7s title. They have a 100 per cent record after four games.
