Impala end KCB’s Kenya Cup reign; Kabras stun Quins

Impala Rugby FC moved one step closer to ending their Kenya Cup trophy drought with a nerve-wracking and hard-fought 8-7 victory over holders KCB Lions in a semi final showdown held at their home turf in Nairobi on Saturday to punch their ticket to the decider.

However, the mouth-watering Ngong Road Derby final was dashed when Kabras Sugar- who lost the crown to the Lions last year- stunned Impala’s bitter rivals and neighbours Kenya Harlequins 19-15 in the other semi.

At Impala Grounds, the hosts who finished top of the league standings in the regular season were out to underscore their favourite’s status and almost went on the scoreboard first, when Ian Minjire dived over to cross the whitewash but he failed to control the ball when it mattered most and the try-chance went begging.

The near miss triggered a response from the defending champions as KCB opted to play a territorial game due to the muddy conditions with the ball airborne for most of the play.

An infringement by Impala gifted the Bankers a chance to snatch the lead but Kenya 15s international; Darwin Mukidza’s goal kick missed its mark.

Impala upped the ante and their phase play culminated in the first points of the game as Minjire redeemed himself; scoring from the blind side after capitalizing on a defensive lapse by KCB.

Impala missed the resultant conversion and the score line remained unchanged until the interval.

In the second half, Impala’s resolute defense stood firm against the incessant waves of attacks by KCB.

Full back George Okowa stretched Impala’s lead with a penalty and their seven-year hiatus without the coveted cup looked on the verge of taking a significant step to being quenched.

KCB struck back soon after from a line out which morphed into a maul providing Peter Karia with the opportunity to reduce the deficit.

Mukidza added the extras expertly and Impala’s single-point lead looked precarious as the encounter entered its final nail-biting phase; the tension on the stands almost too much to bear.

The remaining minutes of the game had both sets of fans on the edge of their seats but when Impala’s play-maker fly-half and former Kenya Sevens ace, Nato Simiyu kicked the ball into the stands moments after the hooter had sounded, their partisan supporters erupted into uncontrolled ecstasy.

KCB’s Head Coach; Curtis Olago, was on the verge of tears as the title slipped out of the Den by the thickness of a vest to leave the Lions who had blown hot and cold in the regular season staring at another rebuilding process; one they hope will not take another seven years having last won the Cup in 2007 before the 2015 triumph.

Next door at Harlequins, it was the turn of the home supporters to be crushed when Kabras Sugar left them with the bitter taste of defeat after conjuring a painful 15-19 reverse to bury any hopes of a return to the ages where Quins and Impala battled out for Kenya Cup honours.

Kabras will be hoping history does not repeat itself in the final after their hopes of a maiden title were halted last season by KCB.

The Kenya cup final will be played next Saturday.

Reporting by Abdi Rizack and Bernard Ndong

KENYA CUP SEMIS RESULTS

Impala Saracens 8 – 7 KCB

Kenya Harlequins 15 – 19 Kabras Sugar