Kabras Sugar Rugby Club started the Kenya Cup final with intensity to run up the scores and leave Impala chasing the match from very early.
From kickoff, the sugar millers bossed the early contact exchanges forcing a ruck infringement in their first visit of the Sarrues 22. worked their way from their 22 into the Sarries 22. Outside centre Fabian Olando, in fine kicking form all afternoon, converted the penalty.
Kabras scrum half Edwin Achayo would then attack an undermanned Impala blindside and find right wing Brian Tanga on his inside for him to ground. Olando missed the conversion for scores to remain 8-0, Kabras.
Impala then got into the game holding possession for longer. The visitors would soon cede a contact penalty but fullback George Okowa missed the conversion. Olando kick in a second penalty conversion, against the run of play, to extend the lead to 11-0.
The Gazelles would now launch a series of raids with right wing Vincent Mose prominent. Once he found outside centre Israel Soi on his inside on a big break but the Kabras scramble defence held.
On two other occasions Mose took contact but support was late in arriving leading to. attack penalties. Okowa would also miss another kick at posts from more Impala pressure.
Fly half Nato Simiyu then found a massive touchfinder, from a Kabras penalty. The Sarries won the lineout, and mauled into the Kabras five metre zone.
The maul would collapse into a ruck and with the picks and drives advancing to the line, Kabras blindside flanker Apenisa Natabua’s blatantl hands in the ruck offence earned him a yelliw card send off.
The Ngong Road side’s captain Duncan Ekasi would call a scrum on the penalty. He woukd then attack the blindside and release his scrum half Samson Onsomu to score. Okowa would miss the conversion at the stroke of half time. 11-5, Kabras.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, the heavens openned up! The match now became a kickfest. At one point, centre referee considered calling of the match after pounding rain reduced visibility. The caotains elected to play on.
The conditions suited Kabras’ mauling and ruck to maul tactics. They would score from a rolling maul to stretch the score to 16-5. Olando would miss this conversion but not two subsequent penalties from good territorial kicks and pressure. 22-5, Kabras – final score.
“Kabras started well and made good alot of their early pressure. We, on the other hand, did not execute our opportunities in that half when the conditions were more playable,” said Impala Director of Rugby, Fred Ollows.
“This was classical playoffs rugby. The team that settles first, and takes their chances, tends to control the match temperament. This time, it was Kabras that did. Much congratulations to them, winning on their second attempt at Kenya Cup”
Ekasi added, “We have had a good Kenya Cup campaign. The finest in many years. We didn’t make the playoffs last year yet we have played in this year’s final. We have a good platform for building the team further beginning with the remaining cup of the season – Enterprise Cup”
Resolution Impala Saracens plays the winner of pre-quarter Mwamba and Western Bulls fixture in the knockout Enterprise Cup quarterfinals.
