Nakuru crack Mwamba in Kenya Cup

Collins Injera of Stanbic Mwamba breaks away from Nakuru RFC's defence during their Kenya Cup league match at Nakuru Athletics Club on February 23, 2019. Nakuru won 29-15. PHOTO | FRANCIS MUREITHI |

What you need to know:

  • Nakuru led by international Oscar Ouma scored two tries and a conversion to lead 12-5 against the Louis Kisia-coached side
  • On resumption, Collins Injera - who had a great day in the office - showed his class when he shrugged off a three-prong attack from Nakuru players to score a try near the flag post
  • Injera, a constant menace for Nakuru, salvaged a try for Mwamba at the death but Namusasi missed the conversion

Nakuru RFC played their hearts out to beat a stubborn Stanbic Mwamba 29-15 in an explosive Kenya Cup league match at Nakuru Athletics Club on Saturday.

Following their sweet victory, Wanyore - as the home boys are popularly known - bagged a bonus point to stay on course for the play-offs.

Nakuru led by international Oscar Ouma scored two tries and a conversion to lead 12-5 against the Louis Kisia-coached side.

After the half hour mark, Nakuru piled pressure and scored a push-over try.

However, Geoffrey Ominde booted the conversion wide.

Mwamba turned on the heat in the 39th minute when Tony Owuor evaded a tackle and sprinted to bury a beautiful try that was however not converted by Elvis Namsasi.

Nakuru regrouped and a minute later they were on the driving seat when Hannington Wabwire combined well with the man-of-the match Munate Akuei to drill home a try which Duncan Abuyeka failed to convert.

On resumption, Collins Injera - who had a great day in the office - showed his class when he shrugged off a three-prong attack from Nakuru players to score a try near the flag post.

However, Namusasi who seemed not to have carried his shooting boots missed the conversion.

Referee Douglas Ng’etich awarded Nakuru a penalty mid-way through the second half and taking the resultant kick Geoffrey Ominde scored with a rising shot to extend their lead to a slim 15-10 advantage.

In the 54th minute, Nakuru’s Walter Okoth collected a rolling ball inside Mwamba’s half and outpaced his markers to score a try near the goal post which was superbly converted by Ominde.

With less than five minutes remaining, Oscar Ouma who was playing his second match of the league for Wanyore danced his way through a forest of Mwamba defenders to drill in a try which was clinically converted by Ominde.

Injera, a constant menace for Nakuru, salvaged a try for Mwamba at the death but Namusasi missed the conversion.

“It was an enjoyable match. I am glad the boys played their hearts out and won the match and a bonus. This is a good build up for play-offs,” said Ouma.

Mwamba head coach Kisia conceded defeat.

“In the first 20 minutes we contained Nakuru but we were sluggish in the defence. We got too much into their style of play and this disoriented our attacking pattern,” said Kisia.