Kenya Cup: Menengai Oilers suffer shock elimination as Blak Blad stun Leos

Menengai Oilers’ Kenya Cup title ambitions went up in smoke after a 35-17 defeat to Nondescripts RFC in a quarterfinal clash played on Saturday, 18 April at the Nakuru Athletic Club.

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The loss marked a bitter conclusion to what had promised to be a breakthrough season for the 2024/25 finalists, who were chasing a maiden Kenya Cup title.

Instead, Gibson Weru’s charges are now set to end their 15s campaign without silverware, having also fallen 29-20 to Kabras RFC in the Enterprise Cup semifinal just a week earlier.

Oilers’ struggles had begun to surface earlier in the season. A 25-15 loss to KCB in February handed them their first defeat, before another setback against Kabras dented their hopes of securing a home semifinal advantage.

Though they eventually earned a home playoff, their performances failed to match expectations when it mattered most.

In contrast, Nondies arrived in Nakuru as clear underdogs. Fresh from a 20-17 loss to Stanbic Bank Pirates in the Enterprise Cup semifinal in Uganda, they were dealing with travel fatigue and inconsistent form throughout the season.

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Their playoff qualification itself came down to a final-day victory over relegated MMUST Rugby.

Adding to the odds stacked against them, their last meeting with the Oilers had ended in a crushing 41-6 defeat. However, Nondies turned the script around in emphatic fashion, delivering a clinical performance to book a semifinal date with KCB Rugby.

Strathmore Leos 25-27 Blak Blad

Elsewhere, Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad produced a dramatic performance to eliminate Strathmore Leos 27-25 in a pulsating encounter at the Strathmore Sports Complex, popularly known as ‘The Cage’.

Blad struck first through a quick try by Arcadius Kwesa, with Daniel Oyoo adding the extras for an early lead. The hosts responded through captain Arnold Muita, whose accurate boot kept Leos within touching distance, eventually edging them ahead 15-13 at halftime after a series of penalty conversions.

The second half delivered even more intensity, with both sides trading blows in a fiercely contested battle. Obat Kuke restored Blad’s momentum with a converted try, before Collins Maina and Elton Amalemba crossed over to keep the hosts in contention.

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With the game hanging in the balance, Blad found the decisive moment in the closing stages.

Substitute Benjamin Rugar powered over for the winning try, and Oyoo calmly slotted the conversion to seal victory and send the travelling fans into celebration.

Blak Blad will now face Kabras RFC in the semifinals.