Impala claim Ngong Road derby in style
Impala’s Sammy Oliech garabs an aerial ball during their Kenya Cup match against Kenya Harlequin at the RFUEA ground on November 22, 2014. Impala won 25-17. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Bulls hit homeboyz in Eric Shirley
- Nakuru crushed visiting Mombasa 85-5 at the Nakuru Athletics Club while Kabras whipped fellow newcomers 41-0 at the Kakamega showground.
Impala won the explosive Ngong Road Kenya Cup derby, beating Kenya Harlequin 33-22 at the RFUEA grounds on Saturday.
At the same venue, Homeboyz bounced back from a heavy 7-45 defeat by Impala last weekend to hand Western Bulls their first league defeat, 25-17.
Champions Nakuru, Kenya Commercial Bank and Mwamba also registered emphatic victories as newcomers Kabras Sugar claimed their maiden win in Kakamega.
Nakuru crushed visiting Mombasa 85-5 at the Nakuru Athletics Club while Kabras whipped fellow newcomers 41-0 at the Kakamega showground.
In another double header at the Impala Sports grounds, KCB scored 10 tries to hammer Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad 60-10 while flanker Collins Injera scored a hat-trick of tries as Mwamba recovered from their 15-16 loss to Western Bulls to floor Nondescripts 43-13.
However, it’s Strathmore Leos who consolidated their league’s lead to 20 points after a bonus point 46-0 victory over the University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine on Friday night.
Tries from prop Hosea Ngesa, outside centre Anthony Nyandigisi, inside centre Jeff Koome, left wing Pius Shiundu and full back Sammy Oliech saw Impala triumph with a bonus points. But not before Oliech made four conversions for the swift and sweet revenge against their neighbours.
A brace of tries from left wing Paul Abuto and a try each from prop John Kiilu and fly half Kevin Keegan could rescue Quins even after scrum half Lyle Asiligwa’s one conversion. Quins failed to get inspiration from their previous 33-12 win against Impala.
SENIOR PLAYERS DOING WELL
“The patterns and combinations I initiated last year are beginning to fall in place this season with the contribution from senior players,” said Impala coach Eric Situma.
“All the top eight eights are strong but we are working on our ability to to get into the semi-finals play-off zone then we can talk.”
In the Eric Shirley Shield matches, Western Bulls II rallied from 7-27 at the break to beat Homeboyz II 44-27 while Impala II handed Quins II a comprehensive 47-10 defeat at the RFUEA grounds.
At Impala, KCB II mauled Blak Blad II 52-0 while Mwamba II beat Nondies II 17-15.
Homeboyz, who lost to Impala 7-45 previously, dominated in the set-pieces and line-outs.
