KCB Rugby will shift their focus to the Embu Sevens as they seek to return to winning ways and strengthen their grip on the Kenya National Sevens Circuit title after finishing second at the Driftwood Sevens in Mombasa on Sunday.
The Andrew Amonde-led side fell 15-5 to Sugarmen Kabras in the final at the Mombasa Sports Club, bringing an end to an impressive run that saw the bankers battle their way past tough opposition to reach the title decider.
On their route to the final, KCB edged out Nondescripts 17-14 in a thrilling quarter-final before overcoming Menengai Oilers 10-5 in a tense semi-final that went to sudden death.
Speaking after the final, KCB Rugby Head Coach Andrew Amonde said: “It was a competitive weekend, and I am proud of the fight and commitment the boys showed, especially in the knockout stages. Of course, we wanted to win the final, but there are positives we can take from our performance. We will go back, work on the areas that need improvement, and prepare well for Embu.”
KCB remain firmly in control of the overall standings with 76 points despite their second-place finish in Mombasa. With two tournaments remaining, Embu 7s and Christie 7s, the bankers are determined to defend the National Sevens Circuit title they won last season.
“Losing a final is never easy because we came here with the intention of winning, but we must give credit to Kabras. For us, the focus now is on the bigger picture. We are still at the top of the standings, and with two legs remaining, we know what is at stake. We will regroup and give everything to defend our title,” said Captain Brian Wahinya.
Attention now turns to the Embu 7s, scheduled for September 5 and 6, where KCB have been drawn in Pool A alongside Mombasa Rugby, KU Blak Blad, and another team set to be invited by the hosts.
The bankers will be keen to make a strong statement in Embu as they enter the business end of the season, with the battle for the overall circuit title set to intensify in the final two rounds.
Kenya National Sevens Circuit standings
Kenya National Sevens Circuit standings after four rounds. SOURCE: Scrummage Africa
