Enterprise Cup Review: Oilers stunned as big guns KCB, Kabras advance to quarterfinals

2021/2022 impressive Kenya Cup finalists Menengai Oilers succumbed to a stunning 24-17 loss away to the relegated Impala Saracens as the Gibson Weru-coached side were eliminated from the Enterprise Cup in the round of 16 match played on Saturday afternoon at the Impala Club.

With the cup competition making a return after a two-year hiatus occasioned by the covid-19 pandemic, teams were handed another route to silverware after Kabras Sugar ended their six-year Kenya Cup drought following their comeback win over Oilers in the final.

Kenya Cup Review: Kabras finally show much needed maturity in ending six year title drought

However, the losing finalists, who were hoping to make another impressive push in the cup competition, could not replicate their Kenya Cup heroics, where they made the final for the first time in their history, as they went down to the Oscar Osir-coached side. In the match, they had led 5-10 at half time but Impala came back charging in the second half as they overturned the scores for the 24-17 victory.

Enterprise Cup: Impala upset Menengai Oilers

At the KCB Sports Club, Curtis Olago’s KCB booked their place in the quarterfinals as they edged varsity side Strathmore Leos 34-25.

At the same time, defending Enterprise Cup champions Kabras Sugar were handed the easiest of passages to the last eight as they were given a 28-0 walkover win after Mean Machine failed to show up.

At the supposed time of the game, Machine were battling for Kenya Cup promotion as they took on South Coast Pirates in the Championship semis in Ukunda, Kwale County. A game in which they won 5-9 to earn promotion back to the top flight after a two-year absence.

Mean Machine, Monks earn Kenya Cup promotion

Mwamba, Top Fry Nakuru and Blak Blad were also given similar walkovers against Kisumu RFC and Mombasa RFC.

In other matches, Kenya Harlequins found themselves out of the competition after being knocked out 19-24 by Homeboyz. Nondescripts managed to advance to the quarters after beating Western Bulls 36-10.

Round 1 Pre-Quarter Finals

Enterprise Cup

Kenya Harlequin 19 -24 Homeboyz Rugby

Resolution Impala RFC 24 – 17 Menengai Oilers

KCB 34 – 25 Strathmore Leos

Nondescript 36 - 10 Western Bulls

Blak Blad 28 - 0 Mombasa RFC

Mwamba RFC 28 – 0 Kisumu RFC

Top Fry Nakuru 28-0 Masinde Muliro

Kabras 28 – 0 Mean Machine