Live Blog: Kabeberi 7s Day Two

0800EAT - Good morning from a chilly and quiet RFUEA Grounds.

The silence around here signals the calm before the storm as the winner of the 7s season opening George Mwangi Kabeberi 7s is set to be known today.

Eight teams including hosts and defending Kabeberi 7s champions Mwamba are still in the running to retain the title they won in the last edition held in 2019.

After two years of not taking place due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, can they retain it?

That question will be brought to a serious test as they face a good looking KCB RFC, who are the overall 7s defending champions, in the main cup quarter final pairing.

The two teams are joined in the last 8 by Menengai Oilers, Strathmore Leos, Homeboyz, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), TopFry Nakuru and surprise package Daystar Falcons.

Main Cup Quarter Final Pairings

KCB vs Mwamba - 0950EAT

TopFry Nakuru vs Menengai Oilers - 1010EAT

Strathmore Leos vs Masinde Muliro - 1030EAT

Homeboyz vs Daystar Falcons - 1050EAT

The remaining eight teams who did not make it to the quarter final, big name being Kabras Sugar RFC, will be battling for better finishes.

Challenge Pairings

Kabras Sugar vs Mean Machine - 0830EAT

Impala Saracens vs Blak Blad - 0850EAT

Nondescript vs Western Bulls - 0910EAT

Kenya Harlequin vs Nothern Suburbs - 0930 EAT

0830EAT

And the games begin here at RFUEA Grounds with the playoff games coming first before the main cup finals tale centre stage.

Challenge Trophy QF1 - Kabras 45 - 0 Mean Machine

The sugarmen have started day 2 of the Kabeberi 7s in blistering form. They send Machine back to the factory to reset. Into the Challenge semifinals they go.

QF 2 - Impala Saracens 5-21 Blak Blad

QF3 - Nondies 17-22 Western Bulls

QF 4 - Kenya Harlequin 10-5 Nothern Suburbs

0950EAT

Main Cup Quarter Finals next! Time for the big boys to get going now.

Defending overall 7s champions KCB run out to face Kabeberi 7s defending champions Mwamba in the first quarter final.

QF1: KCB 14-5 Mwamba

The 2022 Kabeberi 7s will have a new champion! The Bankers have knocked out defending champions Mwamba as they continue with their impressive form. The 2008 and 2014 Kabeberi 7s champions sail yo the semifinals.

QF2: Menengai Oilers 26-5 TopFry Nakuru

Gibson Weru's Oilers emerge winners in the Nakuru derby as they advance to the semifinal of the main cup. They set up an interesting clash against KCB.

QF3: Strathmore Leos 32-0 MMUST

On like a switch! Leos get the bragging rights in the varsity derby and advance to the final four where they await winners between Homeboyz and Daystar Falcons.

QF4: Homeboyz 24-7 Falcons

Homeboyz it is! The Deejayz end Falcons' fairytale run in the tournament. They were the only non top flight side to make it to the main cup quarter final.

Main Cup SemiFinal Pairings

KCB vs Menengai Oilers - 1350EAT

Strathmore Leos vs Homeboyz - 1410EAT

1150EAT

13

th Place SemiFinal : Mean Machine 12-26 Impala Saracens

13th Place SemiFinal 2: Nondies 27-10 Nothern Suburbs

Challenge Trophy Semifinal 1: Kabras 12-20 Blak Blad

Challenge Trophy Semifinal 2: Kenya Harlequin 22-7 Western Bulls

5th Place SF 1: TopFry Nakuru 12-19 Mwamba

5th Place SF2: Daystar Falcons 12-17 MMUST

MAIN CUP SemiFinals

SF 1: KCB 17-12 Menengai Oilers

The Bankers fend off challenge from Oilers as they continue with their impressive form and thus booking their place in the Kabeberi 7s final.

SF 2: Strathmore Leos 15-10 Homeboyz

Strathmore Leos just manage to get over the line as they book their place in the Kabeberi 7s final after beating Homeboyz 15-10.

Homeboyz trailed 10-0, managed to equalize to 10-10 but Leos showed character and had to dig deep in winning

They face KCB in the finale.

5th Place Playoff

Mwamba vs MMUST 1540EAT

3/4th place playoff 1610EAT

Main Cup Finale

KCB vs Strathmore Leos 1650EAT

1540 EAT: Mwamba 29-5 MMUST

After being denied a chance to defend their own tournament, hosts Mwamba RFC finish the 32nd edition of the Kabeberi 7s in 5th place.

3/4th Place Playoff: Menengai Oilers 26-5 Homeboyz

Gibson Weru's Oilers cap off their first outing with a bronze place finish.

Main Cup Finale: KCB 12-10 Strathmore Leos

KCB RFC win the 2022 Kabeberi 7s after a 12-10 victory over Strathmore Leos in the finale. This is the 3rd time they are winning the title after lifting it in 2014 and 2008. Leos tried to rally back in the game but the Bankers just had the edge in the game.

© Hassan Omar

National Sevens Circuit standings after Kabeberi 7s

1. KCB 22 points

2. Strathmore Leos 19 points

3. Menengai Oilers 17 points 

4. Homeboyz 15 points 

5. Mwamba 13 points 

6. MMUST 12 points 

7. Daystar Falcons 11 points 

8. Top Fry Nakuru 10 points 

9. Kenya Harlequin 8 points 

10. Blak Blad 7 points 

11. Kabras Sugar 6 points 

12. Western Bulls 5 points 

13. Nondies 4 points 

14. Impala Saracens 3 points 

15. Mean Machine 2 points 

16. Northern Suburbs 1 point

And with that, the first 7s outing of the season comes to an end! Thanks for joining in and see you next weekend for the Christie Sevens