Hosts Resolution Impala Saracens and defending champions KCB cruised to the semi finals of the 2015 Impala Floodlit tournament after winning their quarter final fixtures in convincing fashion at the Impala Club on Saturday 17 October 2015.
Resolution Impala Saracens 48 Kenya Harlequin 12
This installment of the Ngong Road derby was touted to be a close contest between the sides who are only separated by a fence but it instead turned into a try romp for Impala.
Impala brimmed with fire,incision and belief from the start, Nato Simiyu and Sammy Oliech breaching Quins with reckless abandon, Oliech scoring an unconverted try before Simiyu scored and converted his try for a 12-0 lead.
Impala were coasting, Quins were woeful and were further punished when lock Eric Kerre burst through, touching down with George Okowa converting for a 19-0 lead at the breather.
Quins continued to play second fiddle in this encounter,falling further behind when Robert Aringo touched down, Oliech converting for a 26-0 score.
The quartered shirts, finally enjoying a good spell of possession and able to string together their first meaningful phases of play were able to put points on the board when Tony Mutai scored off a rolling maul to cut the deficit to 26-5 but successive unconverted tries from Kevin Ochami, Samson Onsomu peppered by Simiyu’s conversion from a try scored by Sydney Muniafu,the scion of Kenya rugby legend Max Muniafu saw the Gazelles go 43-5 up against their colorful neighbours and constant bitter rivals who managed a consolation through Mike Simiyu’s converted try.
With Quins ragged and overwhelmed,Duncan Ekasi completed the rout with a try off the maul, Impala adding this result to last season’s 33-22 Kenya Cup win over the same side, but more importantly reaching the last four at their home tournament.
KCB 28 Mwamba 0
One way traffic best describes this fixture, the pressure, the heat all directed Mwamba’s way by a KCB side that barely got out of first gear.
Darwin Mukidza’s quick-fire try saw the champions a 5-0 lead before nippy scrum half Felix Wanjala added a drop goal to see KCB go 8-0 up. Allan Omuka would then steam-roll his way to the try line, his unconverted effort giving the bankers a 13-0 lead before Mukidza landed his brace for an 18-0 score.
Mwamba’s woes would be further compounded when Shaban Ahmed, in a brave attempt to halt the charging run of KCB lock Olver Mang’eni, came off worse after being concussed in the ensuing tackle against Mang’eni.
Referee Constant Cap soon sounded his whistle for half time, the scores 18-0 in KCB’s favour.
Bonab Were’s penalty after the restart made it 21-0 before Curtis Lilako scored off a maul, Mukidza converted for a 28-0 lead that the bankers took to the bank, oops, the full time whistle.
Other fixtures on the day saw Menengai Cream Homeboyz top Total Nondies 29-13 while Pan Africa Strathmore Leos eliminated Top Fry Nakuru by way of a 17-9 score to semi final date with Impala. Homeboyz will play KCB in the other semi final fixture.
Impala Floodlit
Match Day One Collated Results
Clubs Category
Quarters
Menengai Cream Homeboyz 29 Total Nondies 13
Resolution Impala Saracens 48 Kenya Harlequin 12
Top Fry Nakuru 9 Pan Africa Strathmore Leos 17
KCB 28 Mwamba 0
Universities
TUK 15 Strathmore University 47
USIU 27 Catholic Monks 16
Schools
Laiser Hill 29 Lenana 0
Githiga 0 Mang’u 21
Ofafa Jericho 18 Nairobi School 8
Alliance 5 MFA 8
*photo courtesy of Chris Omollo/Nation Media Group
*adopted from KRU website