Black Mamba hit Ulinzi 31-30 in a fiercely contested Kenya Handball Federation Premier League clash as the season concluded at Nyayo Stadium courts on Sunday.

In the only men’s game of the week, Mamba, who finished third, were spitting venom from the start, taking an early 5-2 lead but Ulinzi stormed right back and were level 17-17 at halftime.

The Kaloleni-based side amassed 32 points while the losers are fifth on 28 points. A win would have pushed them to third on goal difference.

“It was tight. Ulinzi have good players with good physique but we played well even when we were only four on the court,” said Mamba coach  Martin Abuda.

Mamba were led by Paul Ondara’s nine and Martin Ngui hit five. Musa Munyasia nailed seven and Noah Cheruiyot five for the soldiers.

In the women’s category, Ulinzi Sharks beat National Cereals and Produce Board 21-17.

The win saw Sharks finish second with NCPB third.

Both teams were tied 8-8 in a low-scoring first half but the soldiers exploded from a 16-16 tie to carry the day.

Sarah Wasike and Caren Lutengeiya led Sharks’ scoring tally with five each while NCPB had six from Sarah Mabonga and four from Elizabeth Atieno.

Earlier, Sharks ripped Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 35-22 in a one-sided tie.

Leading the charges were Euphrasia Mukato, Lutengeiya and Caroline Teruko with five goals. A star-studded women champions Nairobi Water Queens hammered fourth-placed Nanyuki 31-19 as Cecilia Katheu bagged six goals.