The 33rd edition of the Impala Floodlit got off to a cracking start at the weekend, with fans treated to a full course of rugby involving upsets, big hits and edge of the seat action through out the day.
Machine Stun Nondies
The clubs category got off to a blistering start as Machine and Nondies renewed their recent Floodies affair, this time at an earlier stage. The past few years have seen a surge in the number of players making the move from Uhuru highway to the Jamuhuri grounds.
The most recent being Evans ‘Toi’ Musilli who was facing his former mates for the first time. It was always going to be an interesting match up, but few had foreseen what we were about to witness.
Nondies were quicker off the blocks, putting together some great phases of play, but it was Machine who put the first points on the board. Kevin Njugi slotting in a penalty to make it 3-0 to the Eschuma.
Machine were finally settling down, matching their heavier counter parts in the forwards. Nondies would however level things up through a Brian Beckham penalty. Machine’s Kipkorir was causing the Nondies defence all types of trouble at the wing.
The Eschuma would let several chances go begging as they were undone by poor handling and decisions. At the same, their defence was water tight, as they went into the breather with the scores tied and a man down after Njugi was sent to the bin.
Kevin Njugi would return to the action in the second half to kick his side into the lead from a penalty, at 6-3. Machine were now dominating play, with Nondies struggling to keep up with the mean machine. Kevin Gacheru would stretch Eschuma’s lead with a try, to make the score 11-3.
Nondies were self-destructing, struggling to keep possession and keep up with their seemingly fitter opposition. The frustrations boiled over as play came to a stop with a brawl ensuing, when the punches, kicks and dust settled a machine substitute saw red, his match over before it had even begun.
From this point the play fizzled out with Nondies trying their best to chase a game that had already evaded them, full time score Machine 11-3 Nondies.
Quins Outwit Mwamba
With the pace already set, the second quarter final promised to be even more engulfing and entertaining as Quins took on Mwamba for a chance to face Machine in the semis.
Both sides had put their best foot forward as they left nothing to chance as their squad lists clearly showed. The match started on a frantic note, with neither willing to give an inch.
It was Quins who got the first chance to break the tie, Kevin Keegan kicking his attempt wide, he would however make up for that miss soon after from another penalty to hand his side a 3-0 lead. Mwamba looked the more potent of the two sides with the likes of Dan Sikuta, Edwin Machanje and Collins Injera poking holes at the Quins defence but they were falling short at every instance.
Quins would stretch that lead to 10-0 from a William Mawira try and Keegan conversion with a little over 10 minutes to the breather. Mwamba would get back into the game as Nick Ongeri went over the chalk with George Mutuku converting for a 10-7 half time score.
Mwamba came off the break looking hungrier but were still one dimensional opting to make their physical advantage count at every chance. Ahmed Shaban would level the scores at 10 all as the black shirts kept pounding at the quartered ones.
Keegan and Shaban traded penalties as the sides moved from 10 all to 13 all. Mwamba were again shooting themselves in the foot as they opted to take quick penalties instead of going for territory or the points.
One instance, they took a quick penalty within striking distance, Quins doing well to keep them at bay, that phase of play ending in a scuffed drop goal attempt by Lavin Asego from almost the same spot where they had taken the quick penalty from.
Quins were now growing in stature going into the closing stages of the match, Ernest Ngog would go over from the back of a maul to hand Quins a 20-13 lead after Keegan’s conversion. William Mawira would get his brace after he reacted quickest to a loose ball and run half the pitch’s length to score under the posts, Keegan converting for a 27-10 lead. Keegan would rightfully place the seal on the result from a penalty for a 30-10 final score.
Nakuru Outmuscle Homeboyz.
The third quarter final was a rather straight forward affair as Nakuru dominated and dictated proceeding s from gun to tape against Homeboyz.
Nakuru were rampant in the forwards, the day’s captain Mike Okombe leading from the front as did Charles Odhiambo and Kelvin Omiyo. Victor Shigholi and Allan Odiyo combining well at half back to conduct the orchestra that is the Wanyore.
They raced to a 14-0 lead courtesy of Victor Shigholi and David Kivuti tries that Odiyo converted. The Djs got their first points through a Kevin Masai penalty, before Odiyo restored the 14 point gap from a penalty just before the break at 17-3.
It was more of the same in the second half, credit to the Homeboyz who could have been further behind on several occasions. There was however little they could do as Mike Shioso went over for Nakuru’s third try to make it 22-3.
The Djs’ efforts were rewarded as centre Max Kangeri went over to hand his side a life line at 22-8. That line would however be snapped soon after as Nelson Oyoo scored Nakuru’s fourth try despite being a man down, Odiyo kicking in his side’s final points of the match for a 30-8 final score.
KCB Crawl Back To Edge Out Impala
The best was indeed saved for last, as defending champions KCB took on hosts Impala for a chance to face Nakuru in the semis.
KCB’s made the worst possible start, as they were forced into a change inside the opening 5 minutes as captain Phillip Wamae was stretchered off with a concussion. The Lions would take time to settle in the game as Impala took full advantage of their opponents soft under belly.
Fly half Sammy Oliech was causing the bankers all sorts of problems, his combination with Anthony Nyandigisi at 12 was already making its mark on the game. It was a matter of time before the hosts took the lead from an Oliech Penalty.
KCB were still to find their footing in the match and would soon find themselves further behind from another Oliech penalty at 6-0. The defending champions were all over the place, the Impala forwards doing well to ensure that the KCB scrum half had no peace at the break down thus stifling the supply to the Lions’ backs.
Things went from bad to worse for the green shirts as that combination of Sammy Oliech and Anthony Nyandigisi produced a try. Oliech powering his way through two KCB defenders before realising Nyando who touched down for a 11-0 half time score line.
The bankers came into the second half with a renewed intent, they had made a change at scrum half bringing on the experienced Felix Wanjala. His contribution was instant as KCB started to play with a new spring to their step with faster service from the break down.
Peter Karia would slice the deficit to 6 points with a try from a maul to make it 11-5, to mark the beginning of a see saw 20 or so minutes. Impala’s Paul Oimbo would restore parity to the score line with a try at the corner to make it 16-5.
KCB were still growing in stature, with the stand in captain Curtis Lilako alongside Moses Amusala and Brian Sagara leading the way in the forwards. The Lions scrum starting to dominate their opposite set, not only in the scrums but in the line outs and rucks too.
With the forwards now clicking, the KCB backs were now seeing more of the pill giving the likes of Maurice Mbai, Brian Omondi and Allan Omuka a chance to run at the Impala defence. It was Brian Omondi who got the second try for the Lions to make it a 6 point game at 16-10.
The Lions were now in their stride as Impala looked to have been raffled by the resurgence of their opponents. Felix Wanjala would give his side the lead for the first time in the match from the back of a maul Essau Otieno converting for a 16-17 score line. KCB brought in Ken Moseti for the final 20 or so minutes.
Impala were now stunned as they let go of some guilt edged chances to retake the lead, Sammy Oliech missing a sitter of a penalty from dead centre. Minutes later KCB were making forays into Impala territory, Moseti sinking in a drop goal to stretch his side’s lead to 20-16.
Oliech would make up for his earlier miss, slotting in a penalty from almost the same area he missed the first from to make it a one point game at 20-19. The sides kept trading blows, Impala now setting camp inside the KCB 22. The Lion’s young lose forward trio of Edwin Otieno, Peter Waitere and Stafford Abeka working overtime to keep the gazelles at bay.
KCB would shift the momentum to their favour as they moved into Impala territory, setting up several mauls which resulted into a yellow card for Impala captain Duncan Ekasi. KCB would again opt to go for the line out to make their numerical advantage count. That maul resulting in a try by Curtis Lilako to hand his side a 25-19 lead with little under 5 minutes to play.
Impala would throw the kitchen sink at the KCB defence but would fall just short as the final whistle filled the air, to signify the end to a cracker of a match that kept everyone at the edge of their seats, especially in that second half. KCB will now meet their nemesis Nakuru next weekend in the semi finals.
Semi Final Pairings :
Mean Machine vs Kenya Harlequins
Nakuru vs KCB
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!
