Resolution Impala Saracens ended a six year wait for the Impala Floodlit title, edging out champions KCB 33-32 in a thrilling final played under the Impala Club lights on Saturday 15 October 2016.
This match was rugby’s equivalent of a boxing match pitting two pound for pound boxers, each side giving as good as they got.
Andrew Amonde opened the scoring off a rolling maul, Darwin Mukidza converting for a 7-0 KCB lead but the Sarries were always in touch, Quinto Ongo’s two penalties in between converting Davis Makori’s try saw the hosts go 13-7 up.
Mukidza would drill home a penalty to bring the bankers to within three points of the hosts before Collins Nato intercepted a wayward Sarries pass, racing close to 50 meters to score at the corner, Mukidza’s ever reliable boot letting him down, the score 15-13 to KCB at the interval.
Francis Mwita landed an unconverted try in early second half as KCB went 20-13 up but the Sarries worked their way, Ongo’s boot first bringing them to within four points of KCB, drilling home a penalty after KCB were penalized before converting Sammy Oliech’s try as they retook the lead, 23-20 in their favor.
When Ongo converted Duncan Ekasi’s try, one would have thought the game was safely out of KCB’s reach, the 30-20 scoreline looking like a sure enough buffer. Oliech and Dennis Karani would visit the sin bin in quick succession, KCB capitalizing, Peter Karia landing from the maul , Mukidza converting for a 30-27 score before Nato Simiyu’s drop goal gave the Sarries a 33-27 lead.
The closing minutes of this tie were not without drama, KCB’s Mukidza landing a try late on and needing the conversion to sail between the sticks, but this was not to be as he missed the all important kick, center referee Gareth Crawford blowing his whistle for full time shortly after, the Sarries registering their seventh overall Floodies win , their last one having come in 2010 with a 17-13 win over KCB.
A great game of rugby, plenty to look forward to when the new Kenya Cup season kicks off on Saturday 5 November 2016.