Chipu defend their U20 Barthes Trophy in thrilling narrow win over Madagascar

The Kenya U20 rugby national side, Chipu, survived a late scare as they defended their U20 Barthes Trophy by narrowly edging Madagascar 21-20 in the final match played at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Chipu had defeated Senegal resoundingly 50-3 in their first match to set up the finals against Madagascar who also sent Senegal packing and out of the tournament following a 34-3 dispatch of the West African side.

The Kenyan youngsters, keen to defend their crown, started the game with great intent and initiative as Maxwell Atera bulldozed his way over the whitewash to bring the scores to 5-0 after a maul in the corner just six minutes into the clash.

Minutes later, star man Matoka Matoka doubled up the lead and the scores with a second unconverted try to take Kenya's lead to 10-0.

After an infringement by the Madagascar boys, Kenya elected to take a penalty and Matoka was on hand once again, drilling in the penalty to take Kenya's score to 13-0.

Madagascar struggled to settle into their normal speedy game but they discovered their rhythm just at the right time. Trailing by thirteen with just one minute left on the clock before the first half interval, they chopped Kenya's lead to only one point after two successive tries and one successful conversion to get the scores to 13-12 at halftime and set the tone for a thrilling second half.

Upon play's resumption, Kenya's strategy was only one; get as many points on the board as possible. That was evident inside the first three minutes as Chipu, after an infringement by Madagascar, elected to take penalties twice. Matoka missed the first attempt but converted the second to take the game to 16-12.

A spot on line out by substitute Arnold Onzere who had just stepped onto the pitch in the 55th minute handed Kenya a perfect opportunity to grab the third try of the game which they did when John Baraka touched down after a maul move by Chipu, the captain taking the scores to 21-12 after an unsuccessful conversion.

With only minutes left on the clock if not seconds, Madagascar, just as they did at the close of the first half, found a special gear as they took the game to Kenya. First, they converted a penalty that was awarded after a Chipu infringement that saw the hosts reduced to fourteen men.

The nail-biting moment came in the final moments of the game as Madagascar, with a man advantage, sneaked in a try on the corner line leaving Madagascar needing a successful conversion to take the game by a point.

With every player on their knees and every Kenyan in the stadium clenching onto their fists and uttering their special prayers, the conversion sailed wild to send the Chipu players into frenzied celebration as they successfully defended the trophy they won in the last edition in 2019.