Kabras players celebrate at the Dala Sevens/HANDOUT
Kabras RFC produced a composed second-half display to beat Menengai Oilers 17-5 and win the second leg of the SportPesa National 7s Circuit, Dala Sevens, on Sunday in Kisumu.
In a tense and entertaining final dubbed the "Rai Derby", both teams showed attacking intent from the kickoff.
John Okoth and Glacious Owino repeatedly tested the Kabras defence, but the sugar millers held firm and nearly struck first when teenage sensation Rayvone Ambale burst through, only to be bundled into touch.
Oilers finished the first half strongly and were rewarded when Okoth crossed the whitewash to hand his side a 5-0 lead at the break.
Kabras came out a transformed side after the restart. From a scrum deep inside their own half, Jackson Siketa released Ambale, who raced away to score in the corner and level the match at 5-5.
The try shifted the momentum firmly in Kabras' favour. The Kakamega-based side piled on the pressure and Derrick Ashiundu powered over for their second try. Ambale added the conversion to stretch the lead to 12-5.
Fredrick Wangila then put the result beyond doubt with a well-taken try in the closing minutes after a powerful break by forward Patrick Lumumba, sealing a 17-5 victory.
Kabras assistant coach Ntabeni Dukisa praised his players for bouncing back after losing last week's Prinsloo Sevens final to KCB.
"The boys were fired up and delivered in the key moments against Oilers. We hope we can continue with this form heading into the remainder of the series," Dukisa said.
Oilers Sevens coach Geoffrey Ominde admitted defensive lapses after the break proved costly.
"In the second half we had lapses and discipline cost us. But there has been gradual improvement from the Prinsloo Sevens and we can only get better in the subsequent legs," Ominde said.
Kabras reached the final after beating Kenya Harlequin 19-10 in the semifinals, with Ambale scoring twice and Michael Lukusi adding the other try. They had earlier thrashed Daystar University Falcons 29-5 in the quarterfinals.
Oilers booked their place in the final by crushing Zetech Oaks 33-7 in the quarterfinals before defeating Mwamba 22-5 in the semifinals.
Mwamba claimed the bronze medal after edging Kenya Harlequin 27-22 in a sudden-death playoff.
