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In a tournament filled with upsets, Nondies were the unlikely winners of the penultimate leg of the National Sevens Circuit after flooring Strathmore in Eldoret
Nondescripts were the unlikely winners of the Tisap Sevens following a 12-7 victory over Strathmore Leos in sudden death in a tournament that witnessed major shocks in Eldoret.
Nondies drew first blood when Moses Begi touched down with Daniel Okito converting for an early 7-0 lead for the White Shirts.
However, Strathmore replied through an Andrew Matoka try, Steve Osumba adding two more points with a well-taken conversion for a 7-7 tie at the break.
Both sides huffed and puffed in the second half but there was no breakthrough, forcing the game into sudden death.
Strathmore came close to winning it when Collins Maina found himself in a good position but failed to touch down after losing the ball the on the Nondies’ try line.
The students paid the price for the missed opportunity as a swift counter and indecision by the Strathmore backs saw Charles Odhiambo score for Nondies to hand them a 12-7 victory which secured the trophy.
It was a memorable ending for Nondies who perhaps deserved the victory following a tough route to the final that saw them claim a number of scalps.
Nondies are the first team other than Kabras Sugar and KCB to win a leg of this season’s National Sevens Circuit with the sugar millers winning Driftwood and Prinsloo while the bankers claimed Dala and Christie.
With series leaders Kabras and second-placed KCB falling at the quarter-final stage, Nondies were among the unlikely teams that made it to the cup semi-final on Sunday.
KCB, top seeds heading into Eldoret, were on the receiving end of a 10-5 loss to Menengai Oilers in the quarter-finals while Kabras were defeated 19-5 by Mwamba at the same stage.
Strathmore, meanwhile, advanced to the cup semis with a 26-0 win over Blak Blad as Nondescripts edged Kisumu 10-7 to reach the last four.
Sunday’s fixtures followed the scrip of Saturday when Homeboyz, Kenya Harlequin and Nakuru were among big names who were eliminated at the group stage with Nondies, Kisumu, and Black Blad advancing against all odds.
KCB and Kabras would meet in the fifth-place match where the bankers won 21-14 while Mwamba finished third following a 12-7 victory over Oilers.
While the outcome in Eldoret did not severely alter the standings for Kabras and KCB, they will be looking over their shoulders at the final leg, the Kabeberi Sevens, as further slip ups will see them lose their advantage at the last hurdle.
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