The Impala Floodlit tournament kicked off on Saturday 4 November 2017 with quarterfinal action in the clubs and varsity categories.
KCB in laborious win against Kisii
Last years losing finalists KCB were made to work for the 20-14 win against gritty Resolution Kisii.
KCB’s Francis Mwita (l) and Essau Otieno (r) take on a Kisii player in Floodies action on 4 November
Essau Otieno put the bankers ahead with an early penalty before Kisii stunned the bankers, Boaz Ombura seizing the intercept and scoring under the post, the converted try seeing Kisii lead 7-3. Kisii continued to pose problems for KCB who retook the lead, Felix Ojow’s converted try giving them a three point cushion at the breather courtesy of a 10-7 score.
Two quickfire tries from Marlin Mukolwe and Bonab Were saw KCB go 20-7 up but they spurned the opportunity to close out the game, Kisii remaining persistent, Alvin Marube’s try making it 20-14. They gave KCB anxious moments but were let down by decision making, allowing bankers the opportunity to seek into next weekend’s semifinal against Homeboyz. Kisii will contest the plate semifnal against SportPesa Quins who fell to Homeboyz.
Deejays glide past Quins
Quins started their clash against Homeboyz on a high, lssac Adimo and Pius Shiundu with the tries while Eric Shikuku booted home two penalties in between Kelvin Masai’s drop goal for the deejays, 16-3 the half time score in favor of Quins.
Masai then converted Steve Otieno’s try after the restart to bring the scores to 16-10 before Mohamed Omolo, in his first appearance since moving from Impala, scored and converted to see the deejays lead for the first time, 17-16. He would then add a penalty that sealed the 20-16 result for the deejays.
Impala Floodlit action between Strathmore and Mean Machine on Saturday 4 November 2017
Machine hold their ground
Mean Machine reached the semifinal of their favorite tournament with a gritty 11-6 win over the Strathmore Leos. Eric Muthama’s penalty gave Machine a 3-0 lead before James Oluoch went over the chalk to see the University of Nairobi side take an 8-0 lead into the interval. Strathmore huffed and puffed, but could not halt Machine’s march. They camped in Machine’s 22 for long spells, their only reward coming from Ian Lumwaji’s penalty goal.
A rare Machine foray saw them draw a penalty off Strath, Muthama sure with the goal attempt, Machine 11-3 up.Gideon Makumi drilled home a late penalty for the Leos, too little too late, Machine setting up a semifinal date against hosts Impala Saracens who benefited from a bye.
Varsity Category
Blak Blad reached the semifinal in the varsity category with a 57-0 blitz of MKU Thika while the Menengai Oilers posted a 39-3 win over Mean Machine II.
There were also wins for the Catholic Monks who edged Daystar 15-8 as TUK posted a 16-8 win over Strathmore Catulus.
Collated Results Varsity Category
Blak Blad 57 MKU Thika 0
Catholic Monks 15 Daystar 8
Menengai Oilers 39 Mean Machine 3
TUK 16 Strathmore Catulus 8
Club Category
KCB 20 Resolution Kisii 14
Strathmore Leos 6 Mean Machine 11
SportPesa Quins 16 Homeboy 20
Semifinal Pairings Clubs Category Plate
Resolution Kisii v SportPesa Quins
Strathmore Leos bye to the final
Cup Semis
KCB v Homeboyz
Mean Machine v Resolution Impala Saracens
Varsity Category
Menengai Oilers v TUK
Blak Blad v Catholic Monks