Resolution Impala Saracens survived a first minute concussion to mercurial fly half Nato Simiyu and two yellow cards (Samson Onsomu, Kevin Ochami) to grind out a win over defending champions KCB RFC.
In a KCB home match played at Impala Club, Impala started quick off the blocks when KCB fly half Kennedy Moseti kicked off and out on the full.
Scrum half Samson Onsomu would pierce the KCB defence, from the resulting dominant scrum and, at the top of the KCB 22 pass inside to the supporting Simiyu whose collison with two KCB backs knocked him out cold.
The Sarries would draw first blood from another scrum in a blindside attack when Onsomu drew two defenders and set up fullback Ian Minjire to go over the whitewash. Right wing Kevin Ochami’s conversion was off target.
The Ngong Road side would get their second try from a driving maul from a lineout in the KCB 22. Simiyu’s replacement Mohammed Omollo had earlier kicked a deep touch kick from a ruck infringement penalty. Captain Duncan Ekasi scored from the back of the maul. 10-0, Impala.
KCB, stung into action, would score a penalty try after KCB’s scrum half Michael Wanjala got a high tackle. Fullback Darwin Mukidza’s conversion would narrow the scores to 10-7 for the Sarries.
Mukidza would add three points after Impala outside centre Samuel Motari crept offside on a KCB ruck. The 10-10 score held to half time.
In the third quarter, Ochami added Impala a penalty conversion for the Gazelles to inch ahead 13-10. KCB would then rack up the pressure that would see them attack Impala through their trademark rolling maul.
Referee Constant Cap would send Onsomu to the sinbin for collapsing a maul advancing to the tryline. Impala would get a second yellow card when Ochami was pinged for a not-releasing professional foul.
Reserve prop Nesta Okoth would soon finally go over from a lineout maul drive for KCB to lead for the first time at 15-13. Mukidza’s conversion went wide.
Impala would then turn pressure on the bankers and from a hands-in-the-ruck infringement 40 metres out, Omollo converted for a one point 16-15 lead.
At the restart, KCB’s replacement blindside flanker Ian Indimuli would get a yellow card for tackling Impala inside centre Robert Aringo in the air.
The Resolution Insurance sponsored team would gain territory on the yellow. A further KCB breakdown infringement would see Omollo increase the Impala lead to 19-15, the eventual full time score.
“We were unlucky to lose Nato in the first minute. The team however came together and it is great that his replacement, Mohammed, kicked over the winning points,” said Director of Rugby, Fred Ollows.
“The forwards had a good outing disrupting the KCB setpiece. The champs will want to forget how they scrummaged and threw lineout today”
Resolution Impala Saracens remain top of the Kenya Cup table with 65 points followed by next door neighbours Kenya Harlequins on 61.
The Sarries play Blak Blad next Saturday at Impala Club.