Resolution Impala Saracens came off top in the Ngong Road derby, building on a 14-12 half time lead to beat hosts Lunch Bar Quins 33-22 in a Kenya Cup match day three fixture played at the RFUEA Grounds on Saturday 22 November.
Impala started this match with a try right from kick off, Hosea Ngesa grounding the ball with Sammy Oliech converting for a 7-0 lead.
Quins would settle into the match, Dennis Muhanji attacking the space and playing in Paul Abuto who touched down on twelve minutes with Lyle Asiligwa converting to tie the score.
Quins would edge ahead, Patrice Agunda and Muhanji once again setting up Abuto who grounded to bring the score to 12-7 on twenty four minutes, capping a dominant spell for the hosts who had bossed possession and territory.
Oliech, later voted man of the match, would retrieve Kevin Keegan’s high ball, offloading to Pius Shiundu who played in Anthony Nyandigisi. Nyandigisi would ride a tackle to score with Oliech converting for a 14-12 lead with nine minutes to play.
With half time virtually on the horizon, Asiligwa would miss a penalty in front of the posts as referee Bosco Muamba whistled for half time.
The second half started on a rather sedate note but Quins soon went ahead when Impala flanker Joel Omer spilled the ball, turning over possession.
Kevin Keegan would release William Mawira who sprinted clear to score at the corner, 17-14 five minutes into the second half.
Robert Odhiambo and Ian Minjire, on as second half substitutes, combined to hand Impala the lead. Odhiambo would go into contact, offloading on the tackle to an onrushing Minjire would grounded the ball with Oliech landing the conversion, Impala now 21-17 up on fifty minutes.
Shiundu would score Impala’s bonus point try on sixty two minutes, Oliech converting for a 28-17 lead but Quins were still in it, chasing the game. They would enjoy a good spell of possession, gaining territory and drawing an infringement off Impala, electing to run the ball and scoring courtesy of Keegan who split the Impala defense open with a wicked step, scoring under the posts but inexplicably missing the conversion with the scores at 28-22 on sixty nine minutes.
Oliech would eventually land a try, missing the conversion as Impala ran out with the result.
Courtesy: Kenya Rugby Media
