Butere, Musingu defend national titles, giants Butula dethroned in Rugby 15s

Only two schools, Butere Girls and Musingu boys defended their national titles in the concluded five day extravaganza of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association term one games held in Machakos.

Butere Girls successfully defended their basketball title after beating 2019 champions Buruburu Girls 49-43 in a scintillating clash that was filled with emotions.

Buruburu started the game on high thrashing Butere 10-06 in the first quarter.

However, the reigning champions came with a different gear in the second quarter, relishing attack after attack to break down Buruburu's resolute defending to spank them 22-11.

Butere once again unleashed the champion face in the third quarter, winning 16-11 to widen their lead gap. However Buruburu threatened to spoil their party in the fourth set but it was too late for the 2019 champions to reclaim their title.

Head coach Sylvester Oduor was awed by his charges performance.

"We are glad to defend our title. We defended well against their best play maker, not giving her space to cause trouble and that helped us cut off their attacks. Going to East Africa, we are looking forward to bring the title home."

At the same venue, former champions Kaya Tiwi thumped Nasokol 53-34 to finish third and book a ticket to East Africa.

In the boys contest, Coast's Dr. Aggrey High School reclaimed their title they last won in 2022 after toiling hard to stun Agoro Sare 56-54 in a nervy ending clash.

The Robert Aran led Charges who staged a phenomenal comeback on Friday against the defending champions Laiser Hill watched as the same fate almost befell them but they were able to hold on brilliantly to win the tie.

Headcoach Robert Aran believes it will be the time to win the East African title.

"I am glad we won the title. The experience in the league has helped us clinch the title and we are going for the title. We are going to train hard to bring the title home."

In Rugby 15s, last year's runners up All Saints rallied from behind to stun defending champions Butula 12-10 in a pulsating final, bagging their maiden rugby 15s title.

Butula had a brilliant start with Micheal Lukusi and Daniel Wafula scoring a try each to hand them a 10-0 lead. However All Saints got a penalty kick before the hour mark with Joseph Karanja converting to reduce the lead to 10-3.

Knowing they couldn't beat Butula in terms of mass, the hosts forced them into making mistakes in the second half, earning them three penalty kicks with Josephat Karanja brilliantly converting them to give them a 12-10 lead.

Butula were left searching for a late winner but All Saints held on brilliantly to win the contest.

All Saints head coach Benson Mwenda hailed his charges for putting in an impressive shift to bag the title.

"The game was tough in the first half. They were leading but my players sticked to the structure and we won the game. We played them in the pool, saw their mistakes and capitalized on them."

"It is a great feeling for the title to remain home. We are still going to the East Africa to fight for the title," noted Mwenda.

On the other hand, head coach Shimenga Livondo lauded his boys for their hard work but rued the bad state of the field as one of the reasons they lost the final.

"My boys played well, luck was not on our side. We made a few mistakes and we were punished, it is part of the game. The field though disadvantaged us in many ways."

At the same venue Kitondo thrashed Lenana 13-09 to finish third and earn a ticket to East Africa.

Hockey contest saw Musingu boys lifting St. Anthony Boys off their canvas to stun them 3-2, successfully defending their title.

St. Anthony had previously stunned Musingu 1-0 in the preliminaries but the western giants turned it around in the final to earn the bragging rights.

In the girls’ affair, Tigoi girls had a perfect revenge for defending champions Nyamira edging them 2-1 in another nail biting final to bag their maiden title.

The western giants have been knocking on the door since 2016 and this year they had the last smile after a rough contest against their familiar foes.

Head coach Moses Erima hailed his charges for their top notch performance in the thrilling final.

"It feels great to win our first title. We've been trying since 2016 and we've been coming back with a silver. We are also going to East Africa and bring the trophy home."

In third place play-offs, St. Joseph's Kitale edged last Mpesa 2-0 to finish third. All the four teams will head to East Africa.

Handball boys produced fireworks as former champions St. Luke's Kimilili whitewashed the reigning champions Hospital Hill 21-15 in a pulsating final to reclaim the title they last won in 2019.

Kimilili had lost to Hospital Hill in the preliminaries but proved to be a completely different side in today's final, shocking the Nairobi region's giants.

Headcoach Fenwick Opicho was awed by his boys performance saying he had been confident they would bag the title.

"I'm glad we have won the title. I promised my boys we would win the title and we've managed. We are also going to fight for the East African crown."

Saniak shocked hosts Mbooni boys 13-12 in third place play-offs to qualify for East Africa.

In girls' contest Moi girls Kamusinga also reclaimed their handball title after easing past Kwanthanze 24-13 in a scintillating final clash.

Head coach Godfrey Simiyu has now set his eyes on reclaiming the East African crown.

"We are glad we have now reclaimed our national title. We lost the East African title in 2022 after winning in 2019 and I'm now going all out to bring back the title home.

Though they have lost, Kwanthanze will be going back home with their shoulders held high knowing they achieved an incredible feet of qualifying for East Africa aon their maiden national appearance.

In third place play offs Murindiko stunned Ulanda 17-11 to finish third, booking their first East African ticket.

Each category will take three teams to East Africa with an exception of girls' hockey who will be taking four as Kenya are the defending champions.