KCB scrum-half Peter Kamau would have booted his team 3 points clean but missed an easy to slot penalty in the early minutes of the first half. Impala would then wither continous taunts from the KCB Cubs in the next 15 minutes, before dominance in scrum won Ollow’s charges the chance to come out of own half. Mark Kwemoi’s attempt at going for posts flew just wide. Captain Quinto Ongo was binned for ‘talking to the ref’. While out, Kwemoi attempted his second shot at the posts but hit the left upright. Just as Quinto had finished serving time in the bin, Ian Indimuli was caught in a heavy sandwich tackle by Brian Opar & Tyson Okoth. While Opar chose to go below the waist and successfully managed to destabilize Indimuli, Okoth chose to commit himself to the opponent’s upper body. A flurry of complaints rent the USIU air with the spectators challenging referee Douglas Ng’etich’s decision to show Okoth Yellow. Impala were forced to complete the barren half & start the second one a man less.
KCB’s Collins Wanjala who had been silent for the best part of the first half awakened the noise from the KCB fans when he beat Impala’s defence enroute to crossing over the tryline. Attempts by Kamau to convert drifted wide. Impala were quick to respond through a neatly struck Quinto Ongo penalty. Although he missed a second opportunity at the posts, he made right his third to send Impala 6-5 ahead.
Impala were undoubtedly the better side in attack and possession in the third quarter, but KCB held their own in defence, successfully thwarting every Impala attempt to cross the line. A moment of surprise came alive when Kwemoi Mark who had taken over fly-half resposibilities from an injured Anthony Odhiambo did the unexpected. Without giving himself enough space for a drop goal, attempted to sneak one over the posts within KCB twenty-two. His desperate kicking connected somehow miraculously with Vincent Onyala’s right arm and hip. The KCB centre worked hard to not drop the ball and launched a 90 metre run all the way to the try box. His efforts were nicely complemented by Bonab Were. Many a fan had written off an Impala comeback, but the Boks’ fighting spirit was still alight. They ventured into KCB 22 once more and the bankers choked in scrum thrice necessitating Ng’etich to blow for penalty try. Impala 13-12 KCB with just 5 minutes left on the ticker.
The bankers will probably have to ask fly-half Bonab Were why he didn’t slot in two clear penalties when they needed them most. His kicking wide on the 89th minute with the posts in full glare & Ng’etich’s blowing of the whistle to end the match ensure the Resolution Impala Saracens Boks THREE-PEAT win of the ESS League.
Resolution Impala Saracens Director of Rugby – Mr. Fred Ollows: The team played it’s special moments well. KCB came out to play, but our boys were keener. You must credit the way they came back. But you know this is a championship side and are better equipped after winning it for the third time in a row now. The best moment in the match was when the boys went deep into KCB territory and understood that the match was going to be won at the scrum. consistent pounding of the scrum yielded that penalty try. The officiating levels were totally unacceptable, but I must commend the boys for their positivity. I look at this team and believe it is the next Impala. Their mind frame, interest and passion is amazing! We didn’t play our biggest moments in the Kenya Cup league having to bow out in the quarters, but this ESS final was Impala’s biggest moment of the season and we played it out wholeheartedly.