Menengai Oilers and Blak Blad will clash in the Impala Floodlit semifinal on Saturday, October 26, at Impala Club, with both sides aiming for a place in the final.
The teams earned their semifinal spots with impressive quarterfinal wins. Blak Blad stunned defending champions KCB Rugby, while Menengai Oilers comfortably defeated Catholic Monks.
Menengai Oilers
The Oilers are targeting their first final appearance since 2019 when they lost 23-9 to KCB Rugby. Coach Gibson Weru’s side has faced semifinal disappointment in recent years, including a 16-11 loss to Nondies in 2022 and a 41-21 defeat to KCB in the 2023 edition after trailing 31-0 at halftime.
ine out contest between Catholic Monks and Mengai Oilers. Photo. Dave Mwaura
This year, they began their campaign with a commanding 40-3 victory over CUEA. Having won the Varsity Category back-to-back in 2016 and 2017, the Nakuru-based team is eager to claim their first senior title.
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Key new signings, including former Nakuru RFC captain Amos Obae, ex-Kabras Sugar hooker Fortune Arturo, Samuel Ovwamu, and Victor Were, will be vital for the Oilers in their semifinal push.
Blak Blad
Blak Blad enters this semifinal brimming with confidence after a monumental victory over 10-time champions KCB Rugby. Coach Bernard Rotich’s charges will look to replicate their quarterfinal heroics as they aim for silverware early in the preseason.
Blak Blad players in a past action. Photo Courtesy/Denis Acre-half
The Students have shown steady improvement in the tournament in recent years. In 2019, they exited at the quarterfinal stage, but in 2022, they eliminated Strathmore Leos 22-19 before losing 14-3 to eventual champions KCB. Last year, they reached the semis again but fell to Nondies 20-14 but went on to finish third.
Head-to-Head
These sides last met in the 2023 Impala Floodlit third-place playoff, where Blak Blad edged out the Oilers 14-11. In Kenya Cup action last season, Menengai Oilers got the better of Blak Blad, winning 26-12 in the cup quarters after also securing a 23-19 regular-season victory.
