SCHOOLS: All Saints Embu prayers cast out Butula to win national rugby 15s title

Butula Boys High School's Michael Lukusi is tackled by All Saints High School during Kenya Secondary Schools sports Association Rugby match Term One games in Machakos County. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

All Saints Embu are the 2024 Brookside KSSSA national rugby 15s champions.

The Eastern region champions came from 10-3 down at half time to dethrone Butula Boys High School 12-10 and win the national title for the first time in their history.

Butula struck first with a try from full back Michael Lukusi but the conversion attempt was unsuccessful due to the muddy grounds at Machakos Boys High School caused by the heavy rains witnessed on Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Adrian Kwesa stretched the scores to 10-0 moments later after dancing his way to touch down over the whitewash before All Saints responded through their captain Brian Oyugi who split the posts with a well taken penalty despite the muddy conditions to trail 10-3.

In the final half, All Saints’s restored to the kicking game and their tactics worked as Stanley Karanja converted three penalties to win 12-10.

Missed conversions for Butula costed the Western Region heavyweights the national title as All Saints won their first ever trophy.

Speaking after the win, Benson Mwenda thanked the boys for their never die spirit as he promised even better rugby in August when the team moves to Mbale, Uganda for the East Africa games.

“We played well today despite the conditions. It’s no excuse because both teams faced the same challenges and it was all down to tactics and skills to win the match.

“I am proud of the boys and now our story begins because we have the talent to show East Africa that we can play rugby,” said Mwenda.

Both All Saints and Butula will be joined by Kitondo School in Uganda next term after the Eastern Region runners up grabbed the last ticket to Mbale.

Kitondo saw off former champions Lenana School from Nairobi 14-9 to win bronze in the third place playoffs.