The Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) men's league match was crucial for either side as the paramilitary side is keen to maintain their Super Cup slot
In a tense match played at Nyayo Handball Court, title-hopefuls General Service Unit (GSU) survived a nervy second half to pick a 23-21 victory over Buccaneers HC in a match played on Saturday 19 February.
The Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) men's league match was crucial for either side as the paramilitary side is keen to maintain their Super Cup slot and challenge for a maiden title.
On their part, Buccaneers have a chance to break through to the last six and needed the points to move up the standings.
The Raphael Chege-captained men had a good start, pulling away after ten minutes of back and forth in scores, to lead 14-06 at the half-time whistle.
It seemed as though Buccaneers had given up the fight as their body language in the final minutes of the first half was very telling.
However, they returned for the second half charged and one goals after another, they cut their deficit from eight goals to two at 18-16 and it was game on!
Buccaneers managed to tie the score at 19 and again at 20 but GSU's bench power proved superior as they held on for the win.
Nicholas Nyongesa's stops in goal played a major role in stopping the resilient Buccaneers who have lost one of their key players in Radzi Stower to GSU at the beginning of the year.
"This match was more difficult than we had envisioned. We had prepared for the match well but did not expect the fight Buccaneers gave.
After the big lead in the first half, we also became complacent and allowed the opponents back into the game and that almost cost us the match.
Our defense, however, was the saving grace and as we head to the next assignment against Nairobi City Council (NCC) on Sunday 19 February, we will be more cautious," skipper Chege said after the match.
Meanwhile, military side Thika Engineers struggled to beat Rangers HC 38-34 in the other men's league match of the day.
This is Thika's ninth victory in 14 matches and the chase for a Super Cup slot is tightening for the side and ninth loss for Rangers in 16 matches.
"It will be difficult for us to make the Super Cup so we ate playing to use the remaining matches as a learning process. Last season we missed the Cup matches by a single point but this time we are far off.
We are hoping to regroup and come back stronger for the next season with more than the Super Cup in mind," Rangers head coach Gerald Juma offered.