Uganda’s representative Jinja Secondary School wrote their name in East African schools rugby history after lifting the FEASSSA Girls’ 7s title with a hard-fought 12-5 victory over Kenya’s Kinale in the final match played at the Bullring Kakamega county.
The Ugandan champions showed class and consistency throughout the tournament, dropping only one match on their way to the crown. Their campaign which was played in a round robin format saw Jinja began with a narrow but crucial 7-0 win over Kenyan outfit and East Africa defending champions St Joseph Kitale, before they repeated the same scoreline against their Ugandan counterparts Nkoma SS to stamp authority early in the group stages.
A dominant 29-0 demolition of Paul Harris confirmed Jinja’s attacking flair, with their speed and handling proving too much for their opponents. However, they suffered their only setback against St Theresa from Kenya, going down 5-7 in a tense contest that reminded them of the fine margins in sevens rugby.
That defeat only seemed to fuel their determination. In the title decider, Jinja SS dug deep against a resilient Kinale side. The Ugandans struck twice through well-worked tries, with their defense holding firm despite late pressure. Kinale managed a consolation try, but Jinja’s composure ensured the 12-5 scoreline stood until the final whistle.
The victory capped a remarkable campaign for Jinja SS, who now return home with the coveted East African crown and the bragging rights as the new queens of schools rugby sevens.
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