KCB edge Impala to retain Impala Floodlit title

KCB players celebrate with the trophy after beating Impala Saracens 20-18 in the Impala Floodlit rugby tournament final at the Impala Sports Club grounds on October 27, 2018. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • It was a repeat of last year's final where Ahmed scored in similar fashion to help the bankers emerge victors 18-17
  • Impala fly-half  Mark Kwemoi kicked for touch before they won the lineout to pushover for a try through hooker Joshua Matasi. Impala reclaimed the lead 18-17 after a missed conversion
  • Shortly after the restart, Impala got a penalty after an infringement 30m off. Bernard Rotich's effort sailed wide as the hooter sounded to the joy of the bankers

Substitute Shaban Ahmed curled in a penalty with a minute to go as Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) edged Impala Saracens 20-18 to retain the Impala Floodlit rugby tournament title on Saturday at the Impala Sports Club grounds.

It was a repeat of last year's final where Ahmed scored in similar fashion to help the bankers emerge victors 18-17.

It was yet another victory for Curtis Olago's side that sealed their seventh Impala Floodlit success but not without  drama at the end the duel.

Leading 17-13 with four minutes to go, KCB conceded a penalty deep in their 22m.

Impala fly-half  Mark Kwemoi kicked for touch before they won the lineout to pushover for a try through hooker Joshua Matasi. Impala reclaimed the lead 18-17 after a missed conversion.

Then the unrelenting KCB charged into Impala' s territory after restart to get a penalty on the right before Ahmed stepped up to slot in to recapture the lead  20-18.

Shortly after the restart, Impala got a penalty after an infringement 30m off. Bernard Rotich's effort sailed wide as the hooter sounded to the joy of the bankers.

Scrum-half Samuel "Tintin" Asati, who was named man of the match, gave KCB the lead with a try before Impala winger Quinton Ongo and scrum-half Xavier Bett got back with a try each.  The conversions went wide as Impala led 10-5.

Winger Isaac Njoroge levelled for KCB 10-10 with a try as the teams took a break.

Second-row Francis Mwita, who was declared the tournament's most valuable player, shot KCB back to the lead with a try. Fly-half Stephen Osumba converted to put the bankers ahead 17-10.

Bett's penalty reduced the deficit for Impala at 17-13 before Matasi's exploits.