Handball: Upsets galore as Ulinzi, NCPB fall

The varsity side dominated the first half, scoring 22 goals while restricting the soldiers to just ten to set the stage for an upset that ended Ulinzi's six-match winning streak.

Six minutes into the match, Ulinzi realised their favourite tag ahead of the match was under threat, calling for a time out that did little to change their game.

It was Ulinzi's half time pep talk that seemed to have worked as they attempted a comeback in the second half scoring 21 goals while restricting the varsity side to ten but it still was not enough to save their match.

"We have played well. We have trained hard for this match and we deserved the win. Ulinzi gave us a tough match, they were strong and we are happy for the result. This is first time, in a long while, we are picking a win against Ulinzi. The last win against Ulinzi was when our team finished second to Technical University of Kenya in the league almost ten years ago,"

"We were solid today. Our defence and attack were good and the combination gave us the win. Our discipline played a part in our win too as our opponent had more suspensions than we did. The technical bench did a good job to and despite the slim win, it means alot to us," said team captain Samuel Katuva.

Meanwhile, holders National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) who stepped on the court immediately after the Ulinzi against the hard-fighting General Service Unit (GSU) had their own defeat coming.

In an entertaining encounter that almost went south for GSU in the first minute of the match when dependable player Kennedy Simuyu suffered an injury that relegated him to the bench for the rest of the match, the paramilitary side rose from the disappointment to win 38-32, handing the millers their first defeat in seven matches.

It was a point-for-point encounter for the first 23 minutes of the match but GSU garnered a three-goal lead which they held on to until the half time whistle went with the scores reading 14-17.

On resumption, the Allan Odhiambo-coached soldiers continued their onslaught, making up fir what they packed in height with speed and witty penetration of NCPB's defence bagging goal after goal.

Brian Wekukha and Thodosia Sangoro's height proved a thorn in GSU's flesh, bringing the millers team back to game to just a one goal difference. However, Wekukha's rally was brought to a stop with four minutes left to play in the match as he picked a third two-minutes violation that send him to the sin bin.

From two goals shy of a comeback in the last two minutes of the match, the Paul Pudo-coached millers allowed GSU for a rally for a 38-32 win, effectively ending NCPB's four match unbeaten run while picking their sixth victory in a row.

"This was unexpected, unforseen even. We always prepare for a win, not even for a toe-to-toe encounter. But we have to accept this defeat, as painful as it is. We have noted our weaknesses and we will need to work on that. Our team coordination and fitness were wanting and they took advantage of that. They are fast and it shows. We have work to do," said NCPB skipper Timothy Kirimi.

On his part, GSU captain Mark Barasa says the early injury of one of their dependable players, Simiyu, gave them more hunger for a win.

"We came for a win and knowing how good NCPB are on attack, we concentrated on having a solid defence then taking our chances on fast breaks. We converted almost 90% of our chances for this win. Simiyu's injury had affected us mentally but when he came back to the bench, it boosted our morale and we vowed to win it for him too," Barasa offered.