The Standard Chartered Impala Saracens Ladies team emerged runners-up in the 2nd leg of the 2018 KRU Women’s League played at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka yesterday.
The girls beat COMRAS 38-3 in their opening match of the pool games. In their second match, they ran 3 tries & converted 2 for a 19-0 full time score against Shamas. Tough luck played in their last match of the preliminaries when they lost 7-12 to Mwamba, whose squad is blessed with immense national team experience.
The highlight of the weekend was Judith Auma’s big tackle on Vicky Gichure 2 metres away from the Impala try box during the Main Cup Semis. The 7-0 win over the hosts Northern Suburbs booked the ladies a spot in the final.
Impala defended very well in the first half, but bullying at the contact area by Homeboyz who are physically gifted & hapless kicking by the Impala ladies were huge contributors to the 19-0 scoreline at the 19th minute. You can however not play down Judith Auma’s tenacity. The electric lady of the tournament picked off scrum deep in Impala territory and launched a rocket run that left the Homeboyz defence baffled! The conversion that followed hit the sweet spot, but it was too late for an Impala comeback.
FT: Standard Chartered Impala Saracens Ladies 7-0 Homeboyz Ladies
Standard Chartered Impala Saracens Ladies team coach – Maria Otieno:
We are happy with the performance today. The girls showed teamwork. We now only need to get our basics right, especially at the contact area. Going into the Mwamba Leg of the KRU Women’s League, we should be able to take the cup.
Former Impala Club Chairman – David Lukalo
When you get to a final & don’t win, you get disappointed. You however have to loo at our girls & how far they have come. They are still in their intermediate years but are standing resolute against teams with seasoned Kenya Lioness players. We understand that we are not privileged enough to enjoy an abundance of resources like our opponents do, but have made modifications to our systems to ensure we can compete at that level comfortably. The grit in these ladies is very admirable & I am hopeful of lifting the trophy when we go into the 3rd leg of this league.
