Floodies: Nondies stun Oilers to book final ticket
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 05.11.22. | 20:29
The game was a proper cup tie and the scoreboard kept see sawing.
Record Kenya Cup champions Nondescript RFC advanced to the final of the Impala Floodlit Tournament after stunning last season's 15s league finalists Menengai Oilers 16-11 in a thrilling game stages at the Impala Club.
Nondies booked their last four berth after an impressive 33-7 win over fellow Championship side Impala Saracens who were the hosts of the tournament in a game that the halves were played in two separate days due to Floodlights malfunction.
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Oilers who their Sevens side are from an impressive season after lifting the National Sevens Circuit advanced to the semis after claiming bragging rights in the Nakuru Derby against Nakuru RFC, winning the clash 26-13.
Record Kenya Cup champions Nondies had a bright start to the game and were rewarded for their efforts in the sixth minute when Calvin Sheunda kicked a penalty to hand them a 3-0 lead.
Oilers were however not to remain behind for long as they registered the first try of the game seven minutes later who chipped the ball and caught it to cross the whitewash but the tricky conversion was missed.
Nondies regained their lead in the 15th minute through another penalty with discipline issues raring it ugly head again for Oilers after they were reduced to 14 men last time out against Nakuru as this time Sheunda made it two from two kicks.
Oilers went into the break with a slender 8-6 lead with Abutwalib Werunga drilling in the kick from right in front of the posts with the referee blowing the whistle right after the kick.
The second half was off to a stale start as both teams struggled to get some consistency with basic handling errors being a constant theme with the opening 20 minutes remaining scoreless.
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With nothing to keep the scoreboard ticking, Nondies opted for a drop goal that was off the boot of Fidens Tony to thrust Willis Ojal's side ahead in what was turning out to be a proper rugby cup tie.
The Nakuru-based side kicked a penalty through the boot of Austin Sikuewa to regain the lead but Nondies landed a converted try with five minutes remaining to win the game 16-11.
