KCB were quick off the blocks in this semi final fixture played on Saturday 18 October at the Impala Club, taking the game to Nakuru but found themselves trailing when Nelson Oyoo, totally against the run of play, pounced on a loose ball, racing 40 meters clear to touch down with Allan Odiyo converting for a 7-0 lead with six minutes of floodlit rugby played.
It was all Nakuru at this point, the Wanyore dominating play,looking imperious at the breakdown and with ball in hand as they kept the bankers on the backfoot. The bankers woes were compounded by the loss of inside center Ken Moseti, concussed after eight minutes and replaced by Mike Omondi.
The bankers soon steadied the ship, seeing a lot of possession and with it gaining valuable territory. They would force Nakuru into an infringement, Essau Otieno slotting home the penalty to cut the deficit to 7-3.
Collins Wanjala would receive the ball on the burst from Billy Isabwa, embarking on a storming run, riding three tackles to touch down close to the posts. Otieno added the extras as KCB took a 10-7 lead after twenty five minutes of a high octane first half.
Nakuru would attempt to keep in touch, their attacking momentum seeing them fall agonizingly short of the KCB try line with ten minutes of the first half remaining. Both sides would commit a litany of errors as the first half drew to a close, the bankers just shading it by three points.
The Wanyore’s response was furious after the break, piling incessant pressure on the bankers and inevitably retaking the lead when Victor Shigholi touched down with Odiyo converting to see them go 14-10 up three minutes into the second half.
This event stirred KCB into action, the bankers keeping it tight, forcing Nakuru on the back foot. Peter Waitere scored off a rolling maul to see the bankers go 15-14 up.
The Nakuru back three would then fail to deal with Otieno’s speculative up and under, the bounce of the odd shaped ball catching them ill prepared to deal with the pressure from the chasing pack of KCB players. The decision to go into contact deep in their half proved costly as the bankers turned over possession, Peter Karia scoring his second try of the tournament off a rolling maul with Otieno converting for a 22-14 lead. Otieno would add a penalty to see his side 25-14 up with twenty minutes to play but the match was far from over.
Nakuru would chase the game, their efforts paying off courtesy of Philip Kwame’s converted try with three minutes to play but the bankers held on for the 25-21 result, their first win over Nakuru since 2011 setting up the platform for a final date against Lunch Bar Quins who reached the final courtesy of a 20-3 win over Mean Machine.
