Sammy Oliech was the only player on the board for Resolution Impala Saracens, as the Gazelles lost their 2nd Kenya Cup fixture of the season to Strathmore Leos. The Leos begun the more spritely side and were up 21-3 at half time. “Strathmore brought a mental intensity that confirmed their league leadership,” Impala coach Erick Situma said.
“Their loose and tactical play pulled them away. Credit to our guys, though, that they never stopped playing even when it seemed the game was wrapped in first half. We’ll take the positives and use them for the upcoming KCB match which is another challenging match. The patterns we have been training are beginning to take shape. We now need to add consistency for the whole 80 minutes”
Eventually, the score ended at 37-11 with Oliech adding a penalty to his first half one, and an unconverted try, in second half. Leos’ roving flanker Charles Omondi was the Man of The Match. His ball carrying was a big factor in sparking the Strathmore attack. He was also all over the park snuffing out promising Impala attack. “You want your openside flanker leading the charge that way,” Leos coach Mitch Ocholla said.
The Resolution Impala Saracens’ feeder sides – the Boks, in the Eric Shirley Shield, and the Bucks, in the Nationwide League (Nairobi Region) – won their matches in contrasting fashion. The Boks came from 26-8 down at half time to keep a clean 26-0 second half score sheet to an eventual bonus point 34-26 win. Both teams earned a bonus point. The Bucks, on the other hand, kept KCA university scoreless winning 15-0, in a hard ground match.
