RUGBY: Ulinzi win Quins under 21's

The Kenya Harlequin hosted Under-21 Tournament signalled an end to the 2000 season whose clarion call is September 9 with the Enterprise Cup Final between Impala and Nondescripts.

Fans were treated to a feast of good rugby matches played in the "Blackrock" format of 10 minutes each half.

Ulinzi came out on top of Quins after a sudden sudden death try that left Paul Odera wondering where his development side, which nevertheless had been impressive today went wrong.

This brings to two Ulinzi's tally of Under-21 tournament wins, the first at Kenyatta University on May 21.
Nakuru had won the first tournament at the University of Nairobi on April 16 and Impala the third round at the Impala Club on August 27.

Most valuable player was Dennis Mwanje, Ulinzi's eexplosive winger who scored a hat trick of tries in a pool match against K.U's Blak Blad and hit a brace in the semi-final with N.U's Mean Machine.

David Omondi's under 21's, none of them soldiers, who either start or come off the bench for military side Ulinzi's first and second fifteenshave proved their mettle in a field of future stars.

Quins have taken adavntage of the circuit to nurture young fly-half Jude Thumbi who played in the Kenya Cup final and whose drop kicking genius has put many teams asunder in the dying minutes.

Impala have brought to the fore a player in the same position, Ken Migwi, who nevertheless, not drop goaling his team to victory, finds Ahmed Shariff, a bruising centre, in open pathways and chip kicks over defending back lines into a space which his three quarters devour.

Nondescripts would do well to develop a youth side for next year's circuit to make up for their exclusion this year which saw them forfeit their chance to host a tournament to Impala.

Mean Machine's hopes in next year's Pemier League rest on number eight Arthur Indeche, a national sevens cap and Charles Rajuai, a fleet footed fullback, who helped their young team reach the Plate Final where they lost to Impala 8-5.

Mwamba already feature several under 21's on their First XV, including national under 21 captain, flanker Peter Okila and teammate, prop Mark Emitati.

Kenya Commercial Bank are brimming with talent but the uncertainty of whether the Bank will continue to sponsor the team in 2001 has left its future in doubt and its playes looking for other teams.

Omondi's secret all along has been incentive. He pays for his boys' transport to and from training and houses players recruited on Ulinzi's tour of Western Kenya in November 1999 with the soldiers in apartments at the Agricultural Society of Kenya Jamhuri Park Showground.

Ulinzi has also found a fertile hunting ground in Catholic University whose prop Peter Mwangi is a starter on Ulinzi II who meet Quins II in the Mwamba Cup Final curtain raiser to the Enterprise Cup Final.
Ulinzi will capitalise on their good run of results this year to recruit players on their post season tour whose dates and destination are as yet unfinalised.

Other results on the day were:

First Round: Impala 31, KCB 0; Quins 21, Blak BLad 5; Mwamba 0, Machine 0; Ulinzi 22, Nakuru 0; Impala 12, Machine 5; Quins 7, Nakuru 0; Mwamba 22, KCB 0; Ulinzi 29, Blak Blad5; Impala 8, Mwamba 3; Quins 0, Ulinzi 0; Machine 33, KCB 5; Nakuru 15, Blak Blad 5

Semi Finals: Impal 3, Quins 6; Ulinzi 17, Machine 3; Mwamba 0, Blak Blad 7; Nakuru w/o KCB

Finals: Bowl, Nakuru 19, Blak Blad 0; Plate, Impala 8, Mean Machine 5; Cup Ulinzi 5, Quins 0