Impressive Oilers claim bonus point win over Quins
Reading Time: 4min | Sat. 03.12.22. | 19:10
Quins are yet to register their first point following the season after losing their opening two games.
Menengai Oilers extended their 100% start to the season as they claimed another bonus point win over an erratic Kenya Harlequins in a Kenya Cup clash staged at the RFUEA Grounds on Saturday.
Enjoying home advantage, Quins had a bright start to the game and took an early lead when Lucky Dewald got his kicking boots and drilled in a penalty from a favorable angle to hand his side a 3-0 advantage.
Oilers who registered an emphatic 72-6 win over newly promoted Mean Machine last weekend found their groove and registered their first try of the game when John Okoth powered through as the ever reliable Geoffrey Ominde converted the try.
With the half time whistle being just five minutes away, Oilers extended their lead when Hillary Malweyi spotted a gap from the five meter line to touch down but Ominde missed the conversion as they went into the break with a 12-3 lead.
Gibson Weru's side picked up from where they from in the first half as quick hands from their back line resulted in Steve Munga crossing the whitewash as Ominde added the extras as Oilers started to pull away from Quins.
Rocked by the early second half try, Quins shipped in another try two minutes later as that man again Munga profited from a mix up in the five meter line as the Quins players failed to gather a kick allowing Munga to touch down but Ominde missed the conversion from a difficult angle.
Quins registered their first try of the season in the 68th minute after some sustained pressure on the Oilers five meter line which ended in Brain Waraba bulldozing his way over the try line as Dewalt added the extras with the scoreboard reading 24-10 in favor of Oilers.
The Nakuru-based side managed to hold on to the 24-10 win to register back to back wins.
In another match played at the MMUST Grounds, KCB RFC whipped MMUST 41-0.
KCB RFC were making a comeback to the Western region for the first time since 2019 and were keen to get a run for their money. MMUST on the other hand were hunting for their first win of the season, after they narrowly lost to Strathmore last weekend. The match was characterised with a strong KCB defense and powerful scrum, that overpowered MMUST. This was the second cleansheet for Curtis Olago who described the win as a hard-earned one.
KCB RFC REIGN IN THE FIRST HALF
The opening half belonged to Curtis Olago's charges, who scored three tries, two of which were successfully converted.
Davis Chenge was the first to score for the visitors by pounding weight on the visitors' defense to weaken it for a the first try of the match. Mike Kimwele added the extras.
A series of twists and turns followed as MMUST attempted to score, but they failed to KCB's resilient defence. Minutes later, Esau Otieno was at it with his first try of the day and KCB's second try. An attempt to convert by Mike Kimwele went wide.
Excited with their lead, KCB played on, and a build-up saw the ball fall on Martin Owilah's hands and he did not hesitate to add points for his team. The conversion was successful off the boots of Darwin Mukidza.
MMUST failed to reduce the deficit minutes later when Timothy Mmasi's penalty from the half sailed wide.
KCB building on their attacking momentum stretched their lead close to the half way mark after Esau Otieno Adunga scored at the corner. Njoroge failed once again to add the extras, KCB leading 10-0.
KCB further stretched their lead at the half hour mark when Martin Owilah escorted Samuel Asati's flat pass to the try box to score. Darwin Mukidza taking over kicking duties scored to take KCB's lead to 17-0.
KCB picked from where they had left from at the start of the second half, pinning MMUST deep into their own half. Their territorial play proved advantage after Esau Otieno grabbed his second try of the game between the posts, after being set up by Shaban. Mukidza added the extras to stretch KCB's lead to 24-0.
Few minutes later and the bankers were at it again, Owilah grabbing his second try of the game after powering over MMUST defence line to score. Mukidza converted to stretch KCB's lead to 31-0.
The bankers continued piling more pressure on the students and their chances to stretch the lead present itself in a penalty which Darwin Mukidza converted to change the scores to 34-0
KCB would have the last say of the game after Martin Owilah grabbed his hatrick to score at the corner. Darwin Mukidza converted to ensure maximum points for the bankers, with a 41-0 win.
In Nairobi, Kabras RFC edged 1990 Kenya Cup winners Mean Machine 41-0. Machine are now winless after two games.
Kenya Cup Results
KCB RFC 41-0 MMUST Rugby
Kabras RFC 41-0 Mean Machine
Menengai Oilers 24-0 Kenya Harlequins
Blak Blad 28-9 Catholic University
Homeboyz RFC 25-15 Strathmore Leos
Additional reporting by Tabby Nashipae
