Kabras, KCB through to Driftwood Sevens quarterfinals

Alred Orege of Kabras Sugar attempts a pass when playing against Kisumu.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

The opening rounds of the 2024 Driftwood Sevens tournament saw defending champions Kabras Sugar and KCB Rugby make commanding starts, establishing themselves as early favorites in the competition.

Kabras Sugar kicked off their campaign with a hard-fought 7-5 victory over Mwamba RFC, showcasing their defensive resilience in a closely contested match. Patrick Lumumba scored the winning try that was converted by Eric Cantona.

They followed up this win with a dominant 24-0 shutout against Nakuru RFC, reaffirming their status as a team to watch in the tournament.

In this match, Kevin Wekesa returning for the first time since his assignment at Paris Olympics with Shujaa scored a hat trick with Griffins Chao adding the other.

KCB's Elvis Olukusi (center) in action against Blak Blad. [Washington Onyango,Standard]

KCB Rugby, the other standout team of the weekend, also impressed with strong performances. They opened with a 19-5 win over KU Blak Blad, before overwhelming Mombasa SC 39-5 in their second match. KCB's attacking flair and solid defense allowed them to control both games with ease.

Meanwhile, other teams experienced mixed fortunes. Daystar Falcons secured two wins, defeating TUM Marines 20-7 and edging Nondescripts 14-12. MMUST had an impressive 35-7 victory over Mombasa SC but were shut out 0-33 by KU Blak Blad in their next fixture.

Nondescripts bounced back from their narrow loss to Daystar Falcons with a surprise 12-7 win over Menengai Oilers, who later redeemed themselves by thrashing TUM Marines 38-7.

Menengai Oilers star Dennis Abukuse in action. [Washington Onyango,Standard]

Kenya Harlequins also made a statement by blanking Nakuru RFC 24-0, while Strathmore Leos and Zetech University played to a thrilling 12-12 draw. In a low-scoring affair, Catholic Monks and Stallions Rugby finished level at 5-5.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Kabras Sugar and KCB Rugby, who have set the early pace with their dominant performances.

Collated Driftwood Sevens Results

MMUST 35-7 Mombasa SC RC

KCB Rugby 19-5 KU Blakblad

Daystar Falcons 20-7 TUM Marines

Menengai Oilers 7-12 Nondescripts

Kabras Sugar 7-5 Mwamba RFC

Kenya Harlequins 24-0 Nakuru RFC

Strathmore Leos 12-12 Zetech University

Catholic Monks 5-5 Stallions Rugby

KCB 39-5 Mombasa

MMUST 0-33 Blak Blad

Daystar Falcons 14-12 Nondies

Menengai Oilers 38-7 Tum Marines

Kabras Sugar 24-0 Nakuru