NAIROBI, Friday, February 21, 2014
Impala Bucks lose final match
Resolution Impala Saracens’ academy focused side, the Bucks, lost their last match, last weekend, and so fell outside the Nationwide quarterfinal play offs. They lost 32-5 to USIU-A who dominated the physical stakes, throughout the match. The gallant defending that has served the young Bucks well, throughout the season, wasn’t enough to get them past the last hurdle.
Catholic University won the hotly contested Nationwide (Nairobi) Region with 54 points. The following positions saw the next four teams separated by just four points: USIU-A (49), Technical University (48), Daystar (46) and Impala Bucks (45). The Nairobi Region was far and away the most competitive Region and obviously deserves the two national playoff places.
Further communication coming out of the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), late yesterday, indicates that USIU-A have been denied the Impala points, as they fielded an ineligible player – former Impala Boks player, Innocent Wasilwa. KRU have handed Technical University the second Nairobi slot causing an Impala protest.
“If the Union determines that USIU-A have fielded an ineligible player then, our Bucks have to be awarded that match on a 24-0, 5 points basis. This would take us to 50 points and qualification to the national play offs,” said Willy Ombisi, Resolution Impala Saracens’ General Manager. “We will pursue this with Union, in the morning (today)”
On the Bucks, Brendan Venter, Saracens (UK)’s visiting technical director noted: “They are a very spirited lot. What they lack in physicality and experience, they make up with fearless exuberance. They have definitely played beyond themselves seeing as nearly all of them are playing in their first season after school”
