On June 23rd, Kenya Exiles took 2 teams to Bowie, Maryland to participate in PAC sevens, a tourney held every year in the DC area that attracts teams from all over the East Coast in all categories ranging from High school, women’s, over 35, men’s open division and the premier division.

The exiles entered 1 team in the top tier Premier Division and 1 team in the second tier Open Division.

For Kenya Exiles 2 play commenced at 9am with them playing Washington Irish 2 , which Exiles went on to win convincingly with a score of 27-5. Tries for Exiles were made by Ron Omondi- 2, Ernest Waweru-2 and Misha Okutoi. In their second game, Exiles 2 faced a tougher Rocky Gorge side that took the Kenyans to the wire and notched a last minute try to beat exiles 2 19-12.Tries for Kenya were made by Ernest Waweru and Ron Omondi. Exiles 2 played their last game of pool play against Team Zippy, which they lost 24-5.The lone Exiles try was scored by Ron Omondi. This loss meant that Exiles 2 was would setup their next match in the bowl bracket of the open division against Washington Irish 1. This game was played closely for the first 5 mins, before defensive lapses by the Exiles let the Irish put in 3 quick tries to end the day for Kenya Exiles 2.

For Exiles 1 the tourney would see a side that had a lot of experience and name recognition, and had a lot to prove to the audience that had heard a lot about the Kenyans and with the Kenyan fans singing songs with their usual unison, the crowd favorites were determined not to disappoint. In their first game, Kenya 1 faced the hosts PAC. The game was the first of the premier division and reminded all who were present both on and off the pitch that no one was going to walk away with the main cup trophy without putting up a noteworthy performance. Play commenced with both sides exchanging strong tackles and showing very fluid and well coordinated attacks, before PAC putting in the first try of the game via Chilean international Roberto Infante for a 7-0 lead. The ensuing kick off by Infante was a beautiful well hang kick that led to a hard worked try by PAC to go up 14-0. With the half –time whistle going, the Kenyan fans in their usual die hard spirit continued to sing and urge the players on – chants of “ Its okay, Its alright: echoing the park – Exiles coach Niko Waqalavi gave the boys a quick pep talk and wala – the switch was turned on

Peter Ocholla kicked off the second half with his – already popular 4 sec hang kicks, that was met by Leslie Mango who charged down the line and on the tackle popped a pass to a motoring Victor Odour Opong who gained another few yards before creating the first ruck of the half that created quick ball to the back line of Peter Ocholla, Richard Mulaha and Dan Weku who finished up the move with a try by Mulaha at the centre to cut the lead to 14-7. Peter Ocholla converted for the extra point.

The ensuing kick off led to a series of attacks by Chris Kombo and Zeddy Akwanyi who taunted the defense and provided good ball to the backs. An initiated move by Leslie mango, the ever ready work horse setup try number 2 for Mulaha to tie the game at 14-14 after a converted kick by Ocholla. Substitution of Peter Ocholla introduced Ishmael Olewe who immediately made his presence known with his step and pure speed to close out the game with a try and successful conversion for a 21-14 win for Kenya.

In the second game, Exiles 1 played against NYAC from NY – NYAC had by this time plotted against the much faster Kenyans but nothing was going to stop the Kenyan lads on the day. Dan Weku announced himself to the tournament with his classical finishing style to cap of tries by Leslie Mango, Victor Opong and Peter Ocholla to give Kenya a 24-10 victory.

On the last game of the preliminary round, Kenya faced Hyde Alumni a fast young side from Washington and with Coach Waqalavi using his experienced side of 12 wisely, by rotating line-ups for each game, the opposition was kept wondering all day what the Kenyans would produce. Eric Kiarie sent the first message of the game by giving the Hyde team a rude awakening on kick off with a hit to a powering Hyde player – the hit that would begin the onslaught for the Kenyans. Final score Kenya 29 Hyde 0.

On to the knock phase of the tourney and with the fans watching the premier division closely, a lot of fans had already placed their bets on perennial favorites NOVA to take the cup. NOVA spotting their all star team of US eagles and Super league players topped their pool with 3 convincing wins against Fijian select side Pacific Barbarians, MARFU development and Long Island from New York. By topping their pool, Kenya 1 setup a meeting with pool B second placed Long Island and NOVA setup a meeting with pool A second placed PAC.

The lone setback after the preliminaries for Kenya was the loss of Eric Kiarie to a shoulder injury and Kamo Lichaba with a pulled hamstring.

In the first semi final favorites NOVA suffered a heartbreak loss against PAC who controlled ball possession and changed strategy against NOVA to deny NOVA any ball to feed their fast backs and fluid forwards proved to be enough to pull of the upset of the day and book a place in the final for the hosts.

The other semi final saw Kenya begin the game with all cylinders burning, With a squad that would make any Kenyan rugby enthusiast shudder, the game which was watched by a sizeable crowd that enjoyed every bit of offense and defense that they could ask for. Play after play the Kenyans stood up to the Long Island efforts to score and with ball in hand, the creativeness of the Kenyan game was evident as the boys provided a clinic in how to create space and finish in sevens rugby. In the end, the Kenyans proved to much for Long Island to bear as they raced in tries by Dan “Digolo??? weku- 3 tries, Ishmael “El Kaputen??? olewe-I try and Chris Kombo-1 try for a final score of 33-7.

This setup a final that would have a lot of hidden stories – PAC , the hosts of the tournament looked determined to keep their trophy at home, Richard Mulaha and Dan Weku turn up for PAC for their Super league season but play for different clubs in the sevens season, PAC has beaten Kenya Exiles the last 2 years in finals of tournaments – The Kenyan crowd that by the final had grown to a sizeable number was largely disinterested in showing support for the other teams so this had built up a sizeable number of fans who now turned their support to PAC - so the stage was set - Would PAC upset the on-song Kenyan team

From Kick off , things looked quite different for PAC who seemed to have underestimated the Kenyans ability to adjust their play , with Victor Odour, Leslie Mango and Chris Kombo delivering big hits and recovering useful ball for the backs who by this time had figured out how to change and adjust their style of playing to finish off their opponents – In one word ???Flawless??? – was the effort put in by the Kenyan lads to see off the home team for a dominating 33-5 win and the premier cup trophy.

Try scorers in the final for Kenya were, Leslie Mango – 2 tries, Richard Mulaha-1 try, Ishmael Olewe-1try, Dan Weku-1try.

This serves warning to the rest of the rugby world, Kenya Exiles is for real and they are coming, the team management showed its true intentions by fielding a side that showed the presence of the IRB players in the team, throughout the tournament.

Kenya Exiles 1 was selected from

Victor Opong, Leslie Mango, Chris Kombo,Peter Ocholla, Ishmael Olewe,Richard Mulaha, Dan Weku,Zeddy Akwanyi,Eric Kiarie,Kamo Lichaba

Kenya Exiles 2 was selected from

Alex Mwangi, Caeser Otieno, Eric Mpesha, Kenneth Kanyi, Jasper Gesora, Raphel Gikonyo, Ron Omondi, Brent Korvoser, Charles Imbundu, Misha Okutoi

The next tournament is the season highlight at Cape Fear sevens in Wilmington, North Carolina July 7th and 8th. The team will strengthen its forwards with the inclusion of Tony Ongoro and Eddie "Big Hits" Odhiambo and the possible introduction of new entrants Dennis Mwanja, Teddy Omondi and Mitch Ocholla.

For PAC Tournement write up please see link below.

http://www.pacrugby.com/news.asp?id=261