Upperhill dreams big after historic School Games feat

After making history by winning the nationals secondary school games rugby 15s title, Upperhill Secondary School is daring to dream big.

On Saturday, the Nairobi based school beat newcomers Menangai 15-12 to bag the crown.

This conquest, the first of its kind, has given the team impetus and their head coach Thomas Walgwe has now made winning the East African Secondary School Games title a top target when the competition gets underway in August in Kigali,  Rwanda from August 14-26.

Upperhill, last year, bagged bronze in the regional championship held in Uganda, behind champions Laiser Hill and runners up Kakamega High, and Walgwe wants an improvement on this performance.

In fact, he’s put title rivals on notice.

“I am so happy for them (the team). They have come a long way since September last year, and we have done it. We are national champions for the first time in our history. That’s unbelievable,” Walgwe said.

Menengai coach, Kenneth Njagi, was impressed by his boy’s performance despite going down, promising to post an even better show in the East African games.

“It’s unfortunate we have lost the final, but there must be one winner and for this year it’s Upperhill. The boys are really hurting but we must dust ourselves and start again. I promise you fireworks in Rwanda,” Njagi said.

Upperhill got two tries, one conversion and a penalty against Menengai’s four penalties.

Meanwhile, defending champions Kakamega High School defeated St Mary Yala 16-3 to earn the third ticket to play in Rwanda.

In other disciplines, new comers Trans Nzoia Mixed School outclassed their opponents to be crowned new hockey girls champions after defeating defending champions Tigoi Girls 1-0.

Moi Girls Kamusinga lifted the handball girls’ title after defeating defending champions Sega Girls 18-16.

With the competition being tight and close, most of the defending champions retained their crowns.

Laiser Hill and coastal region champions Kaya Tiwi defended their basketball crowns, defeating Sigalame High 65-50 and Butere Girls 36-31 respectively.

Kimilili High School defended their handball boy’s title defeating Kanyawanga 29-20, while St Antony retained their hockey boys’ title narrowly defeating Upperhill 2-1.

The top two teams in each discipline will represent the country in the East Africa Secondary School Games in Rwanda, while in the discipline where Kenya is the defending champions will take the third team.

Musingu High, Kakamega High and Kerugoya Girls, who finished third in hockey boys, rugby 15s and hockey girls, got a chance to qualify for the East Africa Games.

It was however a bad tournament for defending East Africa champions Kisumu Day after failing to earn a ticket to defend their hockey title after they lost 1-0 to Musingu in the playoffs.

In athletics, Eastern’s Gloria Mulei was the top performer while Rift Valley’s Babu Meshack took the boys honours.

In swimming, Rashid Rukia from Nairobi and Okal Joseph from Nyanza were the most valuable players in the girls and boys category respectively.