Match day 14 saw Resolution Impala Saracens hosting Kabras Sugar in what, as expected, was a very physical match from kick off.
Having won their matches last weekend, the two team brought calm confidence to the match..
The Sarries would be first on the scoreboard through a penalty by full back George Okowa after a Kabras ruck infringement.
Minutes later Resolution Impala Saracens would get their first try through loosehead prop Stephen Juma from a driven maul. Okowa added the conversion points to stretch Resolution Impala’s lead to 10-0.
Kabras would respond to this early Gazelles onslaught when forner Impala tighthead prop Duncan Mwangi struck the whitewash from a rolling maul. Their halfback Bruce Juma added the conversion to narrow the score to 10-7 for Impala.
At the restart, Kabras would gain territory after an Impala fumble got them awarded a scrum. They would attack the blindside and score through left wing Brian Tanga. Juma’s conversion would see the sugarmen lead for the first time at 10-14. The western Kenya team would carry this lead to half time.
Second half saw the Sarries up the tempo even as the pressure told in handling errors by both sides. The Resolution Insurance sponsored side edged ahead through veteran fly half Nato Simiyu. Scrum half Samson Onsomu fed him from the back of another maul off a 5m lineout. Okowa’s extras would raise the scores to 17-14, Impala.
Impala were now in full flow, dictating the collision point and running freely. From exemplary go toward ball Onsomu would quickly feed Simiyu who then released inside centre Robert Aringo. He would burst through Kabras tackles to score with two Impalas on his outside.
Right wing Kevin Ochami would take over Okowa’s kicking duties to convert Aringo’s try. The fullback was replaced on injury caution. The Ngong Road side was now two scores up at 24-14.
The Sarries would get their bonus try, confirming their possession and territorial dominance through pacey reserve outside centre Bill Omondi. He too had men on his outside at the point of scoring. Ochami would convert the corner score to finalize the 31-14, Resolution Impala Saracens’ score.
“The lads played exciting total rugby with good composure. We put Kabras under decent pressure at scrum time,” said the Director of Rugby, Fred Ollows. “These big games are great learnings for us as we build towards the playoffs. We’ll keep working to improve our rugby”
The Saracens’ Global affiliate remains atop the Kenya Cup log for the seventh week. They next meet defending champions KCB who are placed 2nd on the current log.