Kabras RFC kicked off their Kenya Cup defence with a 40-13 bonus-point win over returning Catholic Monks in a match played at Kakamega Show Ground.
It was Monks who opened the scoring four minutes into the game, after Sammy Omollo drilled in a Monks penalty off a Kabras infringement in the fourth minute, to take a 3-0 lead.
Kabras’ opener
Kabras would however bounce back from the set back after Patrick Lumumba cutting from outside found a well weighted offload by Mathias Osimbo to score metres off the posts. Ntabeni Dukisa added the extras to send the scores 7-3, Kabras lead.
Four minutes later and Kabras were at it again, Abuto grabbing the second try of the game after Kenya U20 John Baraka set him up to score at the corner. Dukisa missed the extras the scores reading 12-3.
Abuto would grab his second at the half hour mark, after Jeanson Musoga picked the ball at the back of the scrum in Monks 22 to pass to Barry Robinson who set him up for the try. Dukisa made amends to his earlier missed conversion to slot and stretch Kabras lead to 19-3
Kabras grabbed their bonus point minutes before the first half after Lumumba’s powerful drive proved too much to handle for the Monks forward defence. Dukisa added the extras for a 26-3 Kabras lead.
Kabras would have the last say of the first half after Robinson grabbed their fifth try of the game off a rolling maul deep into Monks 22. Dukisa converted to send the scores to 33-3 for Kabras at the break.
Second half
The start of the second half saw Kabras coach Carlos Katywa introduce new blood into the game, and the changes proved fruitful after a powerful drive by Kabras forwards deep into their own half to Monks try box, as Victor Were, set up by an offload from Shem Angugo scored at the corner. Valerian Tendwa taking kicking duties added the extras for a 40-3 Kabras lead.
Kabras would however be reduced to 14 men minutes later after Dan Angwech was found guilty off an infringement at the break down. Monks capitalized on the mistake from the champions, as Eric Ogutu sliced the post from the resulting penalty to take the scores to 40-6.
Monks would later land a try of their own, their numerical advantage coming to play once again as Victor Omupere crossed over the whitewash to score behind the posts. Ogutu with an easy conversion added the extras to to send the scores reading 40-13 Kabras lead.
The two sides pushed to add points to the score sheet but both defences proved a hard nut to crack as the referee whistle ended the game 40-13, Kabras win.
Kabras RFC squad for Monks clash:
1. Hillary Mwanjilwa, 2.Geoffrey Shitambasi 3. Asuman Mugerwa 4.Hillary Odhiambo 5.Shem Angugo 6.John Baraka 7.Patrick Lumumba 8.Jeanson Musoga, 9.Barry Robinson 10.Valerian Tendwa 11Alfred Orege 12. Habil Malik 13. Mathias Osimbo 14.Paul Abuto 15.Ntabeni Dukisa
Replacements: Fortune Arturo, Arwings Owino, Jactone Osoo, Dan Angwech, Duncan Abuyeka, Victor Otieno, William Opaka
Catholic Monks vs Kabras squad
1.Jerry Olem 2. Jeremy Odhiambo, 3. Elius O, 4.Morgan Ngumbi, 5. Isaac Kubasu, 6.Mark Oseko, 7. Felix Okumu, 8. Maxwell Omondi, 9. Samuel Otieno, 10. Samuel Omollo, 11. Michael Wamalwa, 12. Victor Omupere, 13. Patrick Ochieng, 14. Daniel M 15. Eric Ogutu
16. Michael Mulandi, 17. Edward Oyucho, 18. Alvin Otieno, 19. Meshack Ogechi, 20. John Ngige, 21. Shadrack Osama, 22. Reginald Mosagwe 23. Abdul Sadik
