Impala run over Nakuru for back to back wins

Impala Saracens picked up back to back wins in the Kenya Cup after thumping Nakuru RFC 25-19 in a thoroughly entertaining clash that saw the lead seesaw on a number of occasions.

Impala Saracens arrived into the clash having gathered some steam after a disappointing start to the season that saw them lose to Kenya Harlequin following the decision to rescind staying out of the Kenya Cup this season and picked up a win against Menengai Oilers last time out and a draw against Mwamba in Matchday 6.

Nakuru RFC however handed Mwamba their first victory of the season in Matchday 5 following a bright start to the campaign that saw them beat Blakblad and MMUST.

Impala were on the ascendancy from the onset and made their dominance count as early as the ninth minute when Martin Juma's penalty handed Mitch Ocholla's charges a 3-0 advantage after finding it hard to break down the sturdy Nakuru RFC defense.

Impala did not relent after camping in the Nakuru half in the opening 20 minutes and enjoying some brilliant territorial play as they bagged the opening try of the game through Nesta Okotch who powered through the Nakuru defense after a brilliant interchange from Quimo Ong'o but Martin Juma failed to add the extras.

The tide however shifted soon after the try as Nakuru rectified their poor handling skills to bag a try in the 32nd minute courtesy of an intelligent piece of play from the scrum half Chrispin Onyango who dummied the Impala backline from a scrum on the five meter line with Samuel Mwaura converting to make it a one-point game.

Nakuru could have gone into the half leading but Mwaura who elected to kick when they were handed a penalty watched his penalty sail wide off the mark as Impala went into the half with an 8-7 advantage.

Nakuru picked up from where they left from in the second half and bagged another try in the opening five minutes of the closing half after Emmanuel Mboya went on a lung bursting run 10 meter line to slice open the Impala defense like hot knife on butter to touchdown with Mwaura adding the two points for an 8-14 lead.

Impala kept the scoreboard ticking with Martin Juma kicking a penalty to whittle down Nakuru RFC to three points with the game being a calculative encounter.

Impala woke up from their slumber as they aimed to avert a deflating humiliation at their own backyard as they grabbed a try from outstanding play by Hannington Mmbaka who chipped the ball over the Nakuru defense to touch down with Juma adding the two points for a 14-18 lead.

Mitch Ocholla's boys put the game to bed in from a Ong'o try as he powered carved open the Nakuru defense line with a clever run from scrum on the left flank with Juma adding the two points for a 25-14 lead.

Nakuru refused to go down without a fight as they bagged a last minute try through Felix Okoth but Mwaura's drop kick hit the post to settle for a 25-19 defeat.