Floodies Wrap: Oilers & Blak Blad impress as KCB made to wait due to power issues

The 2022 Impala Floodlit tournament that made its comeback in the country on Saturday after a two-year absence enforced by the Coronavirus pandemic had its fair share of thrills and spills upon resumption at the Impala Grounds.

In the elite club category division, Kenya Cup finalists Menengai Oilers once again gave a statement of intent ahead of the 2022/2023 campaign as they barely put a foot wrong in their first competitive 15s match despite not having their full squad in their match against rivals Nakuru RFC.

Kenyatta University's Blak Blad gave a good account of themselves in the opening quarter-final match as they stunned Strathmore Leos to book their place in the semifinal stage of the competition which serves as the curtain raiser for the new season kicking off on 26 November.

Elsewhere, the tournament was forced to a premature end as lighting challenges caused the games to be stopped before the end of the schedule due to player safety concerns. As a result, the game between Nondies and Impala was halted midway while defending champions KCB RFC were made to wait till midweek to take on Kenya Harlequin. Here is a wrap of how the event unfolded.

Blak Blad 22-19 Strathmore Leos

The Kenyatta University side became the first team to book their place in the semis of the competition after staging an impressive comeback to stun Leos out of the tournament.

Trailing 7-13 at the halftime interval, Blad put up a spirited fight in the second half as they came from behind to secure the bragging rights in the varsity derby against a side that finished among the top four in the Kenya Cup last season.

KU's Blak Blad get bragging rights after stunning victory over Strathmore Leos

Menengai Oilers 26-13 Nakuru RFC

Menengai Oilers continued with their dominance over city rivals Nakuru RFC as they once again secured the bragging rights in the Nakuru Derby following a comfortable 26-13 victory in quarter-final two of the Impala Floodlit tournament, making them the second side to confirm their place in the last four.

Menengai Oilers silence rivals Nakuru to book semifinal ticket

The two other matches pitting Impala against Nondies and KCB against Quins will now be played on Wednesday to determine the winner.

“Due to a power outage which couldn't guarantee our players' safety, we have had to postpone the second half of Nondies vs Impala Saracens and the KCB verses Quins match to Wednesday from 5 PM at the Impala Club,” the organizers announced.