14-man Menengai Oilers make history after winning 41st Impala Floodlights
.jpg)
.jpg)
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 02.11.24. | 22:21
The Gibson Weru-coached side secured the title with a dominant performance against the host team, Impala RFC
History was rewritten on Saturday 2 November at the Impala Grounds after Menengai Oilers clinched their maiden Impala Floodlit Tournament title.
The Gibson Weru-coached side secured the title with a dominant performance against the host team, Impala RFC.
The match began with a tense exchange of penalties, with Impala taking an early 3-0 lead. However, Oilers quickly turned the tide, with skipper Ibrahim Ayoo crossing the try line to give his team a 5-3 advantage.
Samuel Mwaura followed suit with a well-executed dummy, extending Oilers' lead to 12-3.
Celestine Mboi further cemented Oilers' dominance with a powerful maul try, making it 17-3. Unfortunately, Oilers suffered a setback when Kenyan international Denis Abukuse was sent off for a dangerous tackle.
Despite being a player down, Oilers continued to dominate. Mboi capitalized on another maul surge to score his second try, pushing the score to 24-3.
In the second half, substitutes Elkeans Musonye and Amos Obae injected fresh energy into the Oilers' attack. Obae scored two tries, and Clinton Odhiambo added another, further extending the lead.
Oilers' clinical performance and unwavering determination ultimately secured a resounding victory, marking a historic moment for the club.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Oilers, who previously held only two Varsity titles.
Oilers came agonizingly close to the club's maiden title in the competition back in 2019 but were narrowly defeated by KCB. This year, they were determined to break the jinx, and their efforts paid off.
Impala RFC, a seven-time champion, aimed to add another trophy to their cabinet. Their last victory came in 2016, and they had reached the finals in the two subsequent years but fell short.
Nondies secure third-place
Nondies clinched the third position in the Impala Floodlit playoffs after a convincing 31-15 victory over Blak Blad at the Impala Club.
Blak Blad, aiming to replicate their 2023 third-place finish, faced a determined Nondies side eager to end the tournament on a high note.
Nondies dominated the early stages, with Charles Omondi and Daniel Okito crossing the try line, and Moseti Nyaenya adding the conversions. A well-executed maul led to another try for Omondi, extending their lead to 17-0.
Blak Blad managed to reduce the deficit with a penalty and a try before halftime, but Nondies regained control in the second half. Okito secured his second try with Ambrose Ouko adding another to seal the tie for Nondies.
With this victory, Nondies secured a strong finish to their Impala Floodlit campaign, claiming the third spot in the tournament.
Rift Varsities Claim Impala Floodlit Varsity Title
Rift Varsities emerged victorious in the Impala Floodlit Varsity final, defeating Kabete Stallions 34-18 in an exciting match at Impala Club.
The Stallions started strong, scoring an early try to lead 5-0. However, Rift Varsities quickly responded with two tries from Antony Owino, converted by Erick Ogutu, to take a 12-5 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Rift Varsities extended their lead with a third try. The Stallions fought back with a penalty goal, but Rift Varsities continued to dominate, scoring two more tries through Kelvin Mokoyani and Eugene Lubanga, along with additional conversions and a penalty from Ogutu.
While the Stallions managed a late consolation try from Brian Ondieki, it was not enough to overcome Rift Varsities' strong performance. The final score of 34-18 secured the Impala Floodlit Varsity title for Rift Varsities.
