Machine got a turnover, and Farar kicked out missing touch for Jeff Vilembwa,playing wing to receive, it resulted in a good reply of running by Ulinzi with Okwaro too being taclkled short of line. From another Machine lineout, Opondo was good, plucking it nice and easy, and Sean was at it again with the injector. The Ulinzi backs had read the move well and Sean found a wall of three greens who gave him a mighty big tackle, with the medics rushing to the scene, Sean woke up to a cheering crowd. He however did not make the second half. Good machine interplay saw them having prop Ben Okembo hitting wide at Ulinzis? centers. A turnover for Ulinzi saw James Mulinge waste a splendid three man Ulinzi overlap. Again Farar Toya lacked good kicks at flyhalf with the usuall Samuel Migwi playing inside center. Migwi kicked a dropgoal for a tight 6-5 machine lead. Then a series of Ulinzi rucks had profficient center Humphrey Kayangi diving over.

Martin Opondo showed his great potential at the lock position winning back his teams kickoff ball. Ken Nyagetumba again showed his rich understanding of the backrow game. He was at it again running past two Ulinzi forwards to make a great 30 yard run. Paul Murunga halted Machines? offensive with another pushover.

Nyagetumba was to make a great run and dummied Ulinzi?s fullback Eric Kibe who failed to take the man with ball, having captain Evans Maiyo, who was giving support and Nyagetumba scored the last try. It was a sweet 21:13 win for Ulinzi on the news of a 31:17 Nondies loss.

Chris Okumu ? Ulinzi coach.

Q: It must be a great feeling for you, with the Nondies loss. You will be meeting Quins?

A: I am excited. Its a first time for us, you know how that feels. We have beaten Quins before, there is alot of anticipation.

Q: There was a moment of great play and tremendous improvement on your side?

A: We came here with a purpose, to run the ball. They realised that and were trying to slow us down with very many breakdowns, rucks and mauls. But we had the best of the runs and good handling I must say. They tried to put in as mush setpieces as possible.

Q: Paul was great today.

A He covered up for the gap left by Mwanja, he played a big part. Bigger than his ussual and deservedly share.

Mumo Musembi ? Machine coach

Q: You are a characteristic running team. Mobile pack, fast backs and even faster wingers? You can have better runs than Ulinzi. Why the change today?

A: We could not have a two running teams type game today. That was their best and only game plan, playing like them would have given them an edge. We had to play differently. They spread themselves wide, infact they were all over the pitch. We had to suck them in, more rucks and mauls then a suprise overlap and runs. Thats why we had more hits at the midfield. More bigman and big hits. They stayed out put.

Q:Its been disappointing?

A: Especially to lose Sean. It was quite unfortunate. The year too. We are focusing at Chairman?s Cup now and the ESS league for our second team. We now have two weekends of sevens rugby, more on the knockout tournaments. It?s unfortunate that the U-21 is down this year we hope they will re-structure it and look at its format next year. However it?s been a good match for our second team and generally very good play by the top four teams. The rest however need to raise a few aspects of the game up.

Brian Malenya ? captain Ulinzi.

Q: How?s the feeling?

A: Its great to reach the semis, with all these problems. Missing the Nondies match, Floodlit, Nakuru, we?ve been going without basic crucial needs.

Q: Ulinzi and Machine are both mobile teams. What determined which team wins?

A: It all goes down to who consolidates the game earlier and faster. The team which had the roving forwards doing more like Machine had Nyagetumba and we had Murunga, would win the match.

Q: You have met Quins before, what do you think Okumu might prescribe?

A: All round. Try as fast as possible to make the first mark. Take quick penalties, force errors run them all the way!

Man of the match: Man of the match: Martin Opondo makes a great lock especially valuable at the set-pieces wonderful on the ball. Intimidating. Brian Malenya was quite slippery. Ken Nyagetumba is invaluable with great offensive play just as Sean Omondi. Paul Murunga however was the most Valuable player putting his name on the score-sheet, making big hits, injectors and actually making the tries

Moment of the Match: There was that endearing moment when Sean Omondi took a big hit from Ulinzi and woke up bravely to everyone?s surprise. However the most beautiful moment was when Opondo won back Machines kick-off ball, for a neat rack and a subsequent great Machine run.

USIU 13: Machine II 10

USIU survived an early scare and managed not to work Max Muniafu to a frenzy coming from 0:10 down to win 13:10 at Machine grounds yesterday. Machine scored first through winger Elvin Mabubii at the center post. Kevin Gachoka at Fly half showed great skill blending well with Mabubii, to raid the USIU try line severally. Amos Agiro replied with great ball handling and Shujaa fly half Samuel Kiarie giving much valued input. Machines? 6?7 second row Nick with great line-outs and runs. The match could be mistaken for a Kenya Cup clash with a first rate resemblance to top rugby play. Machines? Steve Onyango at center was brilliant and slippery with wonderful sidesteps.

A second half switch from Agiro saw USIU scoring their comeback try, scoring another and converting penalty to grab to top of the table position. They face KCB while Machine II play Impala II in the other ESS semi-final. Captain Lawrence Omondi attributed his teams loss to ?focus and finishing ?adding that his backs lacked possession. His new team has only four veterans.

Amos Agiro, captaining USIU said that he has a ?good team? and most important ?experienced?. ?We have good prospects, I am proud to captain such a team. Hope to win?