Reigning women champions Nairobi Water Queens thrashed Rangers 33-15 in a top Kenya Handball Federation league clash at Nyayo Stadium.
The Bungoma-based Rangers, the only team to inflict a first loss on Water Queens in 11 years, trailed 15-10 at halftime and never recovered.
Water Queens' captain Gladys Chilo said they are happy when other teams try so hard to put their all in the first half.
"With our level of fitness, we can maintain the pace all through the game (60 minutes) and that works for us," she noted.
She went on: "In the first leg, Rangers took advantage of our challenges and that worked for them."
The inspirational Chilo noted that four of their players were not present in their previous loss against the same team.
"Today, they all went to work. Remember, it's not how you fall that matters but how you rise after the fall. So we are ready to defend the title."
Cecilia Katheu led the scoring tally with nine goals, Chilo notched seven, Marina Andala shot five and Gail Eucabeth had four.
Rangers, gunning for a top-four finish, scored four through Juliet Juma with Sheila Amodig adding three.
Strathmore University led 15-11 at half-time and went on to beat Black Mamba 28-18. Mori Odhiambo had nine goals and Eshiton Situma had eight for the students.
Rangers men went down 36-33 to the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) as Gideon Baraga shot eight and Polycarp Rakama six.
The losers had six goals from Dalmas Wanyonyi and five from Yusuf Pwoka. Young City pinned down Trans Nzoia 27-26 with Saulo Mwanichi shooting nine goals and Moses Okoth adding six for the winners.
In the other matches, Strathmore University pipped Rangers 28-27 in a close duel. Mike Lotiam nailed seven goals.
Wakanda won two games, hitting Technical University of Kenya 39-33 and Boomerang 35-32 as Mubarak Ismael shot 11 goals.
Desert Scorpions deflated Rangers 33-31 in a game that saw Calvin Maanzo and Stephen Wanyama make seven goals each.
