THE Resolution Impala Saracens Boks escaped by the skin of their teeth to beat the Strathmore Catulus 12-7. This enabled the Boks to keep their unbeaten Eric Shirley Shield league record, this season. The much improved Catulus had lost the first leg 35-17.
Mutuku’s clean pair
Barely a minute into the first half, fullback Mark Kwemoi fielded a Catulus kick and launched a massive counterattack – beating two defenders to find centre Patrick Mutuku on his inside.
The vice captain still had 40 metres to scorch before grounding the ball. seen scorching the grass with a highly charged 40 metre run that ended at the try box. Kwemoi’s attempt at converting flew wide.
Kwemoi would however would be on target, converting hooker Collins Chogo’s try scored off a maul. The 30 metre maul was a massive coordination effort requiring the joining by backs.
The seesaw battle would see the scores end at 12-0, for Impala, in the first half.
In the first score potential of second half, Mutuku would miss a penalty conversion, his kick falling short, after first choice kicker Kwemoi limped off with ankle injury.
Strathmore Press, score try
Catulus’ Cecil Otieno would breach the chalk after sustained territorial and possession pressure on the Boks.
His try, converted by Ian Lumwaji would send chills down Impala ranks but not as much as the subsequent pressure that saw them fluff a 2v1 overlap on replacement fullback Mutuku, who made a massive tackle killing the movement and sealing the 12-7 win for Impala.