The Punter
4 October 2008
Nairobi — Kenya Harlequin FC are the PostaPay Grand Slam rugby champions.
They overcame a heavy downpour to edge out Nakuru RFC 23-20 in extra time on Saturday at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground.
The win was worth Sh200,000 from the Postal Corporation of Kenya.
It was a double win and a rich payday for Quins whose second team also overcame Kenya Commercial Bank II 23-17.
But, the pick of the day pitted Quins, the Kenya Cup League champions and Nakuru RFC who won the Zain Enterprise Cup to determine the ultimate champions.
Nakuru RFC won the hearts of the fans and the man-of-the-match award - Simon Wariuki - but Quins won the match and the cash.
Jude Thumbi who had missed crucial penalty conversions vindicated himself kicking over a penalty in the 16th minute of extra time to take the trophy to Quins.
The kick in the sixth minute of the second period of extra time was worth Sh200,000.
It was only the second time that Quins went ahead after trailing for most of the game.
Thumbi kicked over a penalty for Quins in the fourth minute but Graham Kombo cancelled the lead in the 10th minute. Wariuki kicked over three more penalties and Thumbi one as the visitors led 14-6 at half time.
When the skies opened, Patrice Agunda slipped through what had been a watertight Nakuru RFC defence and Thumbi converted to narrow the lead to 14-11 in Nakuru's favour.
It was Wariuki who put over two more penalties to stretch the lead 20-13 before a former Nakuru RFC player Enos Otieno crossed the line.
Thumbi converted to tie the scores 20-20. He put over the winner in extra time.
Earlier, Quins II turned on the heat in the second half to win 23-17 in the tie which pitted Quins II (winners of knock out Mwamba Cup) and KCB II who won the Eric Shirley Shield league.
John Khakame blocked a 25 metre drop kick and scored to steer Quins II to the Sh100,000 prize money.
Attention now turns to the Prinsloo Nakuru seven-a-side tournament on Friday and Saturday in Nakuru. It is the first tournament in the Kenya Rugby Football Union National Sevens Circuit.
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