Buccaneers beat Rangers to move closer to Super Cup

In a thrilling encounter at the Nyayo Handball Court, Buccaneers Handball Club held their own against tough opposition in Rangers Handball Club to pick a 32-24 win and better their chances of featuring in the six-team Super Cup.

Heading into the match, both sides needed a win as the result stood as the most likely to determine which team makes it to the men's league top six for a chance at the Super Cup. 

It was a tightly contested match from the first whistle and ten minutes in, Buccaneers had opened a four-goal gap at 6-2 but Rangers quickly found their footing to tie the score at six goals. 

Buccaneers, would however, hear none of that see-saw business as they soon had a five-goal advantage with ten minutes to play in the first half. The difference was eight goals as the two sides headed for the half time break. 

Franicks Njoroge and Stower Radzi continued to instill pain to the Gerald Juma-coached Rangers in the second half, the former making full use of his hight to tower above the Rangers' defence and score six a similar tally to Radzi. 

Winstone Chekai and Jetune Oyugi added five a piece in the final tally. The eight-gaol difference at half time came back to bite Rangers as they were unable to recover losing by the same margin. 

"Our game plan did not work and attempts to change tact also proved futile. Buccaneers knew how to beat us and we could not adjust fast enough. We are a team known for the quick throw offs but that today did not work. This is a big blow to our chances at the Super Cup as it means we have to win our remaining matches which will be a tough task," said Rangers' skipper Blaise Mbakaya. 

The race for the final slot to the Super Cup is now likely to be between Buccaneers and Kenyatta University (K.U) and the decision could easily come down to goal difference. 

"We are happy for the win against Rangers. That is a big step towards qualification for the Cup matches. That said, we still have our work cut out. K.U are still I the running for sixth place as we are tied on losses at six and they will most likely maintain 100% record in their remaining matches. 

With a goal difference of about 50 goals while K.U's is much lower, we have to maintain that tally in the remaining three fixtures. Unfortunately, K.U have an edge over is seeing as they have five matches to play but we will do our part and hope it will be enough as the league concludes," said Njoroge, Buccaneers' captain. 

In their second match of the day, Rangers went down 36-42 to Black Mamba. In other matches Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) had to dig deep to pick a 20-18 victory over Gunners. The two sides were separated by one goal at half time at 10-9 as the varsity side held on for the slim win. 

In the women's league, Rangers posted mixed results as they expectedly fell to the experience Ulinzi Sharks 18-41 before picking a hard-fought 29-26 victory over JKUAT.