KCB winger Floyd Wabwire in action against Quins during the semifinal of the Kabeberi Sevens/HANDOUTKCB edged Strathmore Leos 14-12 in a hard-fought final to retain the Kabeberi Sevens at RFUEA Ground on Sunday.
In a tense final, Andrew Amonde’s Thika Road side got off to a flying start when George Ooro punched through the Strathmore defence to score, with Brian Wahinya converting for a 7-0 lead.
A minute later, Mike Wekesa finished a superb move that saw the ball move through the hands of Samuel Asati, Vincent Onyala and Ooro before he touched down.
Wahinya added the extras to stretch KCB’s lead to 14-0. Strathmore were not done, however, and skipper Gabriel Ayimba and Arnold Muita combined to halve the deficit.
Minutes later, Ayimba struck again, showing the KCB defence a clean pair of heels to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try to leave the score at 14-12 at the interval.
On resumption, Leos pushed hard for the winner but a litany of errors, coupled with solid KCB defence, kept them at bay.
The victory lifts KCB to the top of the SportPesa National Sevens Circuit standings with 58 points, seven ahead of second-placed Kabras.
To reach the decider, KCB secures a comfortable 26-5 victory over Quins in the semis.
The bankers scored through Asati, Onyala, Floyd Wabwire and Kipruto Jenkins as they dominated the one-sided encounter.
Quins replied through a consolation try by Brighton Omondi. KCB had earlier been given the scare of their lives before edging Black Blad 10-7 in a topsy-turvy quarter-final encounter.
Elvis Otete struck first for Black Blad, with Benjamin Rugar converting to give the visitors a 7-0 lead at the interval.
KCB showed character and resilience in the second half, with Wabwire scoring and Wahinya converting to level the match at 7-7 before Wahinya kicked the match-winning penalty.
Strathmore, meanwhile, came from behind to stun Menengai Oilers 21-19 in an entertaining semi-final.
Leos scored through Stanslaus Shikoli, Patrick Kluivert and Elton Amalemba, who crossed for the match-winning try deep into injury time.
Beldad Ogeta, Daniel Kipchirchir and Paul Mutsami scored a try each for Oilers, with Phillip Okeyo and Glacious Owino adding conversions.
In the quarter-finals, Oilers edged Kabras 12-7, while Quins defeated Mwamba 7-5.
Focus now shifts to the Driftwood Sevens in Mombasa between August 22 and 23.
