The Standard Chartered Impala Rugby Academy players surprised themselves this past weekend. The Mohammed Omollo captained team whose average age is a jaw dropping 19 went firing on Day 1. They beat other pool contenders with never seen before margins; Stellar performance that booked them a Main Cup Quarter final spot against Mwamba Rfc on day 2.
Standard Chartered Impala Saracens Academy 12-7 Mwamba Rfc
Coach Nick Abok’s charges went in fired up! It all went down to quick rucks and a solidified scrum down. It is worth noting that Daniel Ndome’s neatness at the line out and Omollo’s swiftness in swinging the ball out wide won the game for the youngsters. Omollo was quick to take advantage of Mwamba’s lapse in concentration earlier in the first half. His ingenious act earned him an unconverted try. Most would have expected Mwamba to counter the young lads’ sudden lead with immediate effect. This would not be the case. All doors to the try line were shut, the windows and any other creaking spaces were tightly bolted. It came as a shocker to the Mwamba defence when Steve Shammah broke lose in the 2nd half. His try was neatly converted by Omollo for a 12-0 score line. Mwamba would go over after a long struggle. Their converted try did little to block the holes initially poked by the youthful Impala side.
Standard Chartered Impala Saracens Academy 0-12 Western Bulls
Coming from the match, Academy coach Nick Odera had this to say, ‘Some mistakes cost us this game. Ndome could not throw straight, we didn’t attack from depth as is required. I believe we were frustrated at the beginning and instead of taking it positively, sunk to deeper lows. Our body positions were wrong at the breakdown. The result was 7 game changing turnovers. We cannot rule out this fact: Western Bulls brought out their crème de la crème who managed to neutralize Impala for the first time. I must however commend the young lads for holding their own and losing honorably.’
Impala’s ability to defend against Western Bulls would come to light in the Main Cup finals. Homeboyz took in 3 tries, losing 0-15 to Western Bulls.
