Defending champions Butali and former winners Kenya Police turned up with important wins to keep the top two berths in the Kenya Hockey Union men’s premier league standings.

In the matches staged at the City Park in Nairobi on Sunday, Butali mauled Wazalendo 6-2 while Police edged Sailors 3-2 in a five-goal thriller.

Barnabus Odhiambo and Francis Kariuki scored a brace each with Amos Barkibir and Calvin Kanu topping it up with one goal each for Butali as they thrashed a hapless Wazalendo, who had Joseph Kasua bag a brace for consolation as they succumbed to a second defeat on the spin.

The result takes Butali to the summit of the league standings with 23 points, a point ahead of Kenya Police.

As for second-placed Police, Benson Walubengo tapped in to give Police the lead in the 12th minute but Sailors Johnstone Indiazi cancelled it three minutes into the second period, for shared spoils at halftime.

A minute before the third-period break, Felix Opira put Police in the lead, scoring a field goal to make it 2-1. Mosses Cheplaiti converted the penalty to make it 2-2 but five minutes to the final whistle, team captain Robert Masibo hot the back of the board for the winner. Sailors remain fifth-placed in the 10-team league with 11 points.

Sailors will host Wazalendo on July 2 when they play their last match of the first leg.

In another fixture at the same venue, Kioba Marwa’s lone goal saw Greensharks register their third victory of the season, after defeating USIU 1-0.

The results move them one slot up to position seven on the log with 10 points, a point behind Sailors and USIU who are fifth and sixth in that order.

While the Sharks will be away in Kakamega on July 3 against Western Jaguars, their opponents concluded their first leg on a losing note.