The race for the National Sevens Series remains wide open as teams prepare for the final leg, the Kabaeberi Sevens in two weeks.
The failure by leaders Kabras and challengers KCB to win the Tisap Sevens over the weekend means the top three, alongside Strathmore, can win the national crown on Sunday.
Kabras and KCB fell in the Tisap quarters — 19-5 to Mwamba and 10-5 to Menengai Oilers respectively.
Strathmore Leos, who lost 12-7 to Nondies in the Tisap final, are also in the mix for the title, especially if the regulars fail to sparkle at RFUEA.
Kabras lead the log with 92 points, one better than KCB with Strathmore third with 82.
Defending champions Menengai Oilers are a distant fourth and well out of contention with 71 points as Mwamba round off the top five with 69 points.
Kabras Sevens coach Felix Ayange said they missed a crucial opportunity to lay down a marker at the Tisap Sevens, especially with KCB losing in the last eight.
"It was a missed opportunity for us having seen KCB lose to Oilers. We could not execute in both attack and defence against Mwamba and we conceded too many penalties," he said.
"We go back to the drawing board as we seek to finish strongly at Kabeberi this coming weekend."
The Kakamega-based side are without five of their star players, who training with Shujaa for the Olympic qualifiers in Zimbabwe mid this month.
They include Brian Tanga, Kevin Wekesa, Jone Kubu, Lamech Ambetsa and William Muhanji.
However, Ayange, a former international, said he can't use that as an excuse.
"We have depth in the squad and we had a good opportunity to do something special in Eldoret. Now that we didn't, we need to pick ourselves up and emerge stronger for the final leg," he said.
KCB coach Andrew Amonde hailed his youngsters despite the shock loss to the Oilers.
“The youngsters played well. We will learn from the defeat heading to the last leg. It boils down to the maths as we seek to get the better of Kabras and Strathmore," said Amonde.
Strathmore coach Louis Kisia, who has seen his charges lose two consecutive finals, believes his charges can finally claim a leg of the series this weekend.
"We were unlucky in both finals and I hope it will be the third time lucky at Kabeberi Sevens," he said.
