10 tries, only 2 of which were converted led to Resolution Impala Saracens registering a 54-0 win over relegation bound CUEA Monks.
It was not a walk in the park for the Kenyan Sarries though. Intermittent incidences of resistance and resurgence by the Monks were seen throughout the game. So passionate were the Monks that, at one point they threatened to walk away in dispute of a referee call, This called for a ruthless approach, unwavering patience and intensive use of forward play by the Gazelles.
Oliech quick to break ice
Sammy Oliech lit up the Resolution Insurance sponsored team and fan faces in the second minute. A ruck in midfield from a Davis Makori carry created a platform of attack. Samson Onsomu then whipped to Anthony Nyandigisi who passed it to Carlos Raoul. Fullback Pius Shiundu joined from deep to set up Oliech. Oliech still had a 30 metre dash to the line. He then made his only successful attempt at post during the match. 7-0 Impala
Omer scores as Oliech limps off
Impala would for the next 8 minutes drop anchor in CUEA 22 without score. The students obstinately defended their line but cracked open in the 10th minute. A Joel Omer captain’s try from pick up! Oliech’s attempt at posts was wide. Quinto Ongo’s clean pair left two CUEA backs gasping for air to dot in the 18th minute, in the far right. Oliech was wide once more. The centre then served the technical team a headache when he limped off after the attempt. George Okowa replaced him.
Onsomu and Okari punish Monks
Onsomu then sniped around a CUEA ruck base to score the bonus point try in the 25th minute. Okowa couldn’t add the two. A line out in CUEA territory created a mauling opportunity one minute to half time. Omer caught the no. 2 ball which ended with Felix Okari at the tail. After several shifts in maul attack points, he grounded for a 27-0 scoreline. Okowa missed the conversion for the 27-0 register at half time.
Obino sent off
Four minutes into the 2nd half, loosehead prop Javan Obino was sent off for a dangerous no-hands tackle, a call hotly contested by the Impala technical bench. ‘It was neither dangerous nor malicious. It did not warrant a red card’ said Impala forwards coach and ex international front row Frank Ndong’.
Impala was going to play the next 36 minutes one man less
At the next scrum, Mathew Mtalaheri (backrow) was substituted with reserve prop Musalia Mwenesi to take care of the Obino sendoff.. Reserve hooker Dan Ndome was then sent in to re-energise the forwards. He replaced Kelvins Karani who had a fine afternoon in office.
Impala down to 13
With the fresh forwards, Makori got the impetus to power through in the 57th minute. Replacement kicker Shiundu claimed the extras. Ndome would then be temporarily sent off for an early tackle on a Monks penalty, reducing the team to 13. Impala stepped up the tempo with 13 men, attacking, for the first time, with real freedom.
Man of the match centre David Dinda, Makori, Omer and Paul Ombo’s firepower coupled with Erick Kopondo’s breakdown hunger now tormented CUEA’s defence.
Onsomu would, once again, snipe the base of a dominant ruck, and make a 40 metre dash to a classy try at the corner. Shiundu’s conversion went wide for a 39-0 register at the hour mark.
Makori was on the tryline again at the 69th minute, swatting off defenders in his wake. 44-0 Impala. Shiundu was off mark with the conversion, once again.
Just seconds after coming in for scrumhalf Onsomu, Mohammed Omollo entered the score sheet; with a try scored off a maul drive. He failed to collect the extras. He signalled his hunger for the starting 9 jersey when he dummied, side stepped and dragged 2 defenders to his brace of tries in the 78th minute. He completed the kicking woes of the team when he missed his second conversion attempt.
The scores closed at 54-0 for the Saracens Global Network team. Earlier, the Resolution Impala Saracens Boks had blanked out CUEA Monks II 50-0 to continue pressing for an Eric Shirley Shield play off place.
The Resolution linked Sarries next travel to Kakamega to play the Western Bulls in Kenya Cup and Eric Shirley Shield where the team is 6th and 3rd on the respective logs.
