The Strathmore Leos avenged their 17-48 match one loss to Menengai Cream Homeboyz, defeating the deejays 33-32 in an exciting match day six encounter at the Impala Club on Saturday 10 December 2016.
It was the Strathmore Leos who declared their intent early on, Eugene Nzioka the life of all their offensive play. He would drill home a penalty to put the Leos 3-0 with the opening six minutes before setting up the platform for Ginton Adongo to ground the ball, his ensuing conversion bouncing off the posts as they led the deejays 8-0 after twenty minutes.
Homeboyz clawed back into the game, Kelvin Masai first stroking home a penalty before slicing through the Leos defense to score and convert for a 10-8 lead after twenty six minutes of play before converting Alvin Otieno’s try six minutes later as Homeboyz led 17-8.
The Leos were still snapping at Homeboyz, Brian Nyikuli going over to cut the deficit to 17-13 but Masai converted Andrew Chogo’s try to see the deejays hold a 24-13 lead at the interval.
A furious start to the second half saw the deejays land their bonus point try, Mike Wanjala scoring against his alma mater two minutes in the second half to take the score to 29-13.
Homeboyz intensity would dip over the ensuing eight minutes, the Leos patiently building up and landing through Mike Gitau’s unconverted effort to bring the score to 29-18 with half an hour to play. John Oduk’s unconverted effort ten minutes later brought the Leos to within six points of Homeboyz, 29-23 and an anxious final twenty minutes to play.
The loss of dependable forwards Mclanhan Shikuku and Elton Isiaho seemed took the wind out of the Leos sails as the deejays extended their lead, Masai’s penalty seeing them breach the thirty point barrier as they led 32-23 with fourteen minutes to play.
Off a rolling maul deep in Homeboyz territory, Gitau would land his second try, four points separating the two sides, 32-28 with nine minutes to play. He soon landed his hat trick as they led for the first time since mid first half, 33-32 to the Leos with four minutes to play.