Holders Rusumo edge national champions Cheptil

Regional volleyball champions Rusumo High of Rwanda needed two hours and six minutes to see off national champions, Cheptil, 3-2 in a thrilling five-set boys’ match at the Eldoret Polytechnic on Monday in the Brookside East Africa Secondary School Games.

The former champions who are gunning to reclaim a title they last won in 2014 enjoyed huge support from the home fans who cheered their every serve and block but Rusumo were undeterred, winning the first set 25-17.

The second set was a tighter contest, with Cheptil coming out triumphant 28-26.

None of the sides seemed able to win consecutive sets as the visitors regained their lead, winning 25-23. Cheptil had taken an early lead but weak blocking from the side allowed their opponents back in it: and eventually losing it 19-22.

The home side were more improved in the fourth set, with Wesley Kirui leading a 25-21 onslaught to set up a tense final set.

It was Rusumo who had the nerve to see it off, winning the deciding set 15-13.

Cheptil’s Coach, Daniel Kirwa is adamant his charges can go on and lift the trophy despite the setback.

“Rusumo are very tough and you need to be very good technically to beat them. You can see why they are champions; they’re the team giving us headaches and hopefully we can get the better of them if we meet again in later stages.

“We are already leading the pool alongside them,” Kirwa told Citizen Digital after the match.

Kirwa will lead his charges against Rwanda’s Lycee de Nyanza of Rwanda in their next match.

Meanwhile, Lycee de Nyanza defeated Luyanzi of Uganda 3-2 (24-26, 26-24, 23-25, 25-22, 15-08) in another pool A match. Malava of Kenya edged Uganda’s St. Mary’s Kitende 3-1 (25-19, 17-25, 25-16, 25-20) while Uganda’s Buremba was thrashed by Apapen of Rwanda by three straight sets of 25-19, 25-10, 25-19.

In the girls category, champions Indangaburezi of Rwanda whipped Kenyan side Sega Girls in pool B match of three straight sets of 25-21, 25-14 and 25-20 as another Kenyan side Lugulu defeated Trust High from Uganda 3-0 , sets of 25-13, 26-24 and 25-17.

-Rugby action-

In rugby, Bungoma High routed Uganda’s Makerere 28-0 as Kakamega High narrowly edged Moi Sirgor 10-9 in the boys15s.In the rugby 7s, Laiser Hill beat Mukingi 14-0 before whitewashing St. Mary’s 42-0 as Upper Hill beat Kololo 12-10 who had earlier triumphed over St. Peters 15-12. Kenya’s Upper Hill won the second match 19-14 against Uganda’s Jinja.

In the rugby 7s, Laiser Hill beat Mukingi 14-0 before whitewashing St. Mary’s 42-0 as Upper Hill beat Kololo 12-10 who had earlier triumphed over St. Peters 15-12. Kenya’s Upper Hill won the second match 19-14 against Uganda’s Jinja.Meanwhile, athletics competitions that had been scheduled to kick off on Thursday have been moved to Friday.

Meanwhile, athletics competitions that had been scheduled to kick off on Thursday have been moved to Friday.