Main Cup dreams seem to have drifted away with the ocean breeze…
POOL D: Resolution Impala Saracens, Kabras Sugar RFC, Strathmore Leos, Daystar University
Impala Saracens 27-0
First match of the day, first win! The first try of the match should have been registered by Samuel Oliech, fresh from his UK sojourn. He, however, knocked on in the try box. Derrick Mayar, the three try hero in Dala then crossed over for the Resolution-backed side’s first score. Nato’s conversion flew wide for a 5-0 score. Leon Adongo was next to ground the ball in the far left corner. Nato Simiyu failed to convert this one too. Just before the half time hooter went, Captain Lameck Dunde scored a try with Nato finally finding his boots for a 17-0 half time Impala lead. Adongo and Mayar’s fire blazed on well into the second half. Nato failed to convert these two, as well. Full Time: Impala Saracens 27-0 Daystar.
Impala Saracens 7-14 Kabras Sugar RFC
Casual approach to the game? Were we expected to lose? Could we explain why we lost this?
A score less first half. Tough indeed. The Sugar Millers dropped deep into our half and for most of the time taunted our defence. Would we crack in the first half? No! We held our ground. In the third minute, Nato passes to Dunde, Dunde gains ground, passes to Sidindi, Sidindi commits defender, pops it to Adongo. The crowd roars! Adongo gets to Kabras’ 5. He could score a try… Massive tackle by Nick Barasa! First try scoring opportunity squandered!
Nato’s unique play making skills sparked towards the end of the first half: Cross kick to Dunde in Kabras 10. Dunde launches a hopeful run into the 22. Kabras’ Perminus Macharia soon covers. Dunde offloads to Anthony Oyugi. Oyugi is tackled by Nick Barasa and Okaron Oscar. Knock on! Another try scoring opportunity extinguished!
12th minute, Kabras tear through Impala Saracens defence, Okaron scores a try. Nick Barasa’s conversion struck with finesse. 7-0 Kabras Sugar. Dunde soon set up Adongo for a run. Try time Impala. Nato’s conversion levels it 7-7 with only 1 minute to go. The last 60 seconds were going to be spent in Kabras’ half. They tackled strongly, and cracks were growing wider until Kabras pounced on a loose ball. It was over. We now had to beat Strathmore Leos to secure a quarterfinal appearance.
Impala Saracens 7-12 Strathmore Leos
They beat Impala at the Kabeberi Quarters, The Saracens’ Network team returned the favour in Kisumu’s soggy pitch. The Leos scored first, and twice, through their international Tony Owuor for a 12-0 score. Impala showed brief promise when Oliech scored on the first ball in 2nd half. The 7-12 loss meant our relegation to the Bowl. Unusual quarters to play in.
Bowl Quarters:
Impala Saracens 26-0 Blak Blad
Impala continued their 2 year domination of Blad without any particular sparks to partly atone for the Day 1 woes.
Bowl Semis:
Impala Saracens 27-0 Kisumu
In perhaps one of Impala’s best moves, Nato’s pass finds Oliech in position. Oliech dummy switches and pops to Soi. Soi whizzes through that gap for a try! Omulokoli then dragged 3 defenders into the try box for another. Oliech would then set Soi up once more in a near copy move of the first try. A minute later, another try by Sidindi! Nato’s kicking boots desert him. He fails to convert all the four tries. Makori closed the scorers’ log after fending off his defender. Nato’s conversion slotted beautifully this time.
FT: Impala Saracens 27-0 Kisumu
Bowl Finals:
Impala Saracens 5-0 Western Bulls
The score explains it. The Western Bulls wanted to win the Bowl trophy with such zeal. They defended and attacked with equal intensity. At one point, Brian Bango stretched 6 of the Gazelles only to be cut back to size by Sidindi. Soi, impressive throughout this series leg, carried the ball with passion. Nonetheless, it was Oliech who scored the winning unconverted try, despite limping for the last four strides. Final Score: Impala Saracens 5-0 Western Bulls