KCB Rugby end 15s season trophyless as Menengai Oilers clinch maiden ESS title

Former Kenya Cup champions KCB Rugby were left reeling after a 15-12 defeat to Menengai Oilers in a tryless Erick Shirley Shield (ESS) final match played on Saturday, 5 April, at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka.

The loss capped off a disappointing 15s season for the Bankers, who failed to secure any silverware despite strong performances throughout. 

The result also marked a double heartbreak at the hands of Oilers, whose senior team had already stunned KCB 31-8 in the Kenya Cup semifinals just a week earlier on the same grounds.

KCB’s season unravelled at crucial moments—they bowed out of the Enterprise Cup at the semifinal stage against Kabras, fell to Oilers in the Kenya Cup semis, and ultimately lost the ESS title to the same opponents.

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The Bankers were the first to get on the scoreboard through Smith Muhoya’s penalty kick after an Oilers infringement. 

Lionel Ajeliti added another penalty to give the hosts a 6-0 lead. But Oilers responded through the reliable boot of Erick Ogutu, who narrowed the gap to 6-3 just before the break.

The opening half was fiercely contested, with neither side managing to find a breakthrough try.

Oilers made some questionable decisions in key moments, notably opting for a scrum deep in KCB territory instead of going for points.

The second half followed a similar script; tense, tactical, and dominated by penalty exchanges. 

Ogutu struck first after the restart to level the scores at 6-6, before adding another penalty to push Oilers ahead 9-6.

KCB nearly hit back with a try, but were held up just short, eventually settling for three points through Levy Amunga to make it 9-9. 

Ogutu slotted another penalty to make it 12-9, before Amunga equalized once more to 12-12.

However, it was Oilers who held their nerve in the final minutes, with Ogutu drilling home the decisive penalty to seal the win.

With the 15s season now behind them, KCB will be keen to regroup and refocus ahead of the fast-approaching 7s season, where they’ll be looking to turn their fortunes around.

The focus now shifts to the Kenya Cup final pitting defending champions Kabras RFC and Menengai Oilers slated for Saturday 12 April at the ASK Kakamega Showground.