Kenya under-20 rugby team through to Barthes Cup final

The Kenya under-20 15srugby team popularly known as “Chipu” is through to the final of the Barthes Cup set for this Saturday after crushing Madagascar 51-13 in a semi match played on Wednesday night at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek, Namibia.

Kenya will now meet the hosts Namibia in the final which is expected to be fiercely fought with the champions earning the right to play the North winner for Africa’s sole ticket to the 2018 Junior World Rugby.

At the Hage Geingob Stadium, the Paul Odera coached side scored four tries with skipper Xavier Kipngetich Bett of Impala Saracens slotting in two conversions and a penalty to take a commanding 27-13 lead at the intervals.

Soon after the break, the burly centre Zeden Marrow played a wonderful loop pass to Kipng’etich, allowing the Impala Saracens scrum-half to go over for Kenya’s fifth try which he slotted in comfortably to ensure the Kenyan junior’s led 34-13, locking the game out of the reach of their opponents.

Three more tries and a single conversion by Kipng’etich before the final whistle ensured Chipu sealed their finals spot with a convincingly 51-3 win over Madagascar.

Madagascar and Zimbabwe will battle it out for a third-place playoff.