Seismic Strathmore Leos dispatch Kenya Harlequin

Ambitious varsity side Strathmore Leos made a strong statement of intent as they brilliantly came from behind to stun Kenya Harlequin 19-17 in a mouthwatering and high octane Kenya Cup tie staged at the RFUEA Grounds on Saturday afternoon.

With the game at 16-17 with just minutes left on the clock, a brilliant Joseph Airo penalty conversion from the half way line stole the 19-17 win for Leos who condemned Quins to a third straight defeat.

The varsity side had appeared to be losing the match against Quins but two moments of genius from Airo completely turned the game on its head as they sealed the beautiful comeback win.

After a closely contested quarter of an hour, it is Quins who managed to surge ahead through a Mark Mungo try as they powerfully mauled their way over the try line from a scrum to go 7-0 up following a successful conversion attempt.

But as if in retaliation of their own intent, clever play from Leos saw the varsity side manage to get their own first try just minutes later as Airo cleverly read a grabber kick hit behind the beaten Quins defense before running all the way in touching the ball at the corner to help his side cut the deficit to 7-5 after a missed conversion attempt.

But in a game where both sides fought to assume control of the game, only three more points would be added to the affair and it went Quins way as they converted their penalty to take a 10-5 lead going into the break.

In the second half, Stephen Osumba again reduced Leos' gap to two points as he drilled in a penalty but Quins quickly established their lead after their conversion attempt was successfully converted to take them 17-8 up.

A successful penalty conversion for Leos would bring the scores to 17-11 andit is from that point that the Loiuis Kisia coached side showed their might despite being a man less.

Airo made it a one game point as his one handed grab and go single handedly set him up for Leos' second try of the game that brought the game to 17-16.

Airo would then step up in the dying moments of the game as he converted his penalty from the half way line to emphatically complete the comeback and win the game for his team by a 17-19 score.