Menengai Oilers end five-year Impala Floodies final wait after thumping Blak Blad
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 26.10.24. | 22:35
Oilers will face tournament hosts Impala RFC in the final, set for Saturday 2 November at the Impala Grounds
Menengai Oilers made a triumphant return to the Impala Floodlit final, their first since 2019, following a commanding 22-6 win over Blak Blad in the semifinals held at Impala Club on Saturday, 26 October.
The Gibson Weru-coached side, who have twice claimed victory in the tournament’s Varsity category, have faced a series of narrow semifinal exits in recent years, including a tight 16-11 loss to Nondies in 2022 and a 41-21 defeat to KCB in 2023, where they were down 31-0 by halftime.
Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad, also no stranger to close semifinal calls, put up a spirited fight after knocking out defending champions KCB Rugby with a 9-8 win in the quarterfinals.
They had beaten Oilers 14-11 in the 2023 Impala Floodlit third-place playoff but were unable to replicate that performance this time.
Oilers overcame an early 3-0 deficit from a Kelvin Gathu penalty, equalizing through a penalty kick from fly-half Abutwalib Wesonga.
With momentum on their side, they took the lead as Celestine Mboi scored a converted try, putting them up 10-3. Blak Blad’s Daniel Oyoo responded with a drop goal, narrowing the score to 10-6 by halftime.
In the second half, Clinton Odhiambo powered over the line off a maul, extending the Oilers’ lead to 15-6, and later added a second try, bursting through from a ruck to bring the score to 20-6.
Denis Abukuse took over kicking duties from Wesonga, nailing the conversion to seal a 22-6 victory.
Oilers will face tournament hosts Impala RFC in the final, set for Saturday 2 November at the Impala Grounds.
Meanwhile, the hosts Impala RFC cruised to the final of their home tournament for the first time in six years following a hard-fought 9-6 win over Nondies.
Kabete Stallions secured their spot in the final with an impressive 35-14 display against Impala Boks in the semifinals.
Impala Floodlights defending champions KCB Rugby defeated Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) Monks 68-6 in the second plate semis.
The former Floodlit Champions, who were shocked 9-8 by Blak Blad last weekend, were too hot to handle for CUEA as they ran in 10 tries to claim the win.
