There were seconds left on the clock when Mwamba Ladies found the try that mattered most. A 10-7 win over local rivals Kenya Harlequins in the Dala 7s Division One women’s final wasn’t just a trophy defence it was back-to-back titles, KES 100,000, and bragging rights over a Harlequins side that had spent the weekend making headlines of its own.
The men’s side of the Harlequins operation had been busy too, knocking out defending series champions KCB in the tournament’s standout shock. But there was no fairytale run to the podium’s top step for them Mwamba 7s stood in the way of third place and wouldn’t budge, forcing extra time after the sides finished level at 17-17. Mwamba captain Shaquel Bosire settled it with the winning try, sealing a 22-17 result and a strong weekend for the club across both codes.
KCB’s exit had been coming. The Bankers arrived in Kisumu unbeaten after a perfect Prinsloo Sevens campaign in Nakuru, but a 19-19 pool-stage draw with MMUST suggested their free-scoring form wasn’t guaranteed to travel. It didn’t. KCB finished the weekend in 5th place, beating Strathmore 24-17 in the classification match.
At the top of the men’s draw, Kabras Sugar 7s produced the comeback of the tournament. Trailing Menengai Oilers 0-5 at halftime in the final the exact scoreline that undid them against KCB twelve months earlier Kabras hit back through Derrick Ashihundu, before Series MVP Rayvon Ambale scored and converted to put them ahead. Fredrick Wangila’s try, converted by Michael Lukusi, made the final scoreline 19-5 and returned Kabras to the top of the overall SportPesa National Sevens Circuit standings.
“We came too short in Nakuru, losing in the final, but we knew we had it in us to win here and we couldn’t be more pleased,” said Kabras captain Mathias Osimbo.
SportPesa Head of Public Relations Willis Ojwang praised the weekend’s competitiveness across the board, singling out the strong showings from Harlequins and MMUST as evidence that “the gap between the top teams and the chasing pack is closing” a trend he said augurs well for the rest of the season.
Elsewhere, the promotion race at the Impala Club ended with Catholic Monks beating Stallions 20-14 in the Division 2 final, earning a place in Division 1 and KES 70,000, with Stallions collecting KES 30,000 as runners-up.
The SportPesa National Sevens Circuit now heads to Nairobi for Leg 3, the Kabeberi Memorial Sevens, at the Impala Club on 15–16 August where Mwamba Ladies will look to make it three titles in a row.
