14-man Menengai Oilers clinched their maiden Impala Floodlit title after a stellar performance against Impala RFC to win 42-3 at the Impala Club.
Menengai Oilers, who had previously only won the Varsity category twice, were yet to claim the club title. The closest they had come was in 2019, when they lost to KCB 23-9.
Impala Floodlit hosts
For the hosts Impala RFC, they had seven titles to their name, with their last victory in 2016 after a tight 33-32 win over KCB. They had reached the finals in 2017 and 2018 but fell short both times.
Menengai Oilers players huddle ahead of Homebyz date. PHOTO/Menengai Oilers
Impala started strongly, pressing the Oilers early and earning an initial penalty, which Quinto Ongo missed. He later converted a second penalty to give Impala a 3-0 lead.
Oilers quickly responded, with skipper Hibrahim Ayoo crossing over for a try to make it 5-3. Samuel Mwaura followed up with a well-sold dummy for another try, which Abutwalib Wesonga converted to extend the lead to 12-3.
Oilers pushed further ahead when Celestine Mboi scored off a maul, making it 17-3. However, Oilers suffered a setback when Kenyan international Denis Abukuse was shown a red card for a challenge deemed to involve a leading arm.
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Despite being down a player, Oilers continued to dominate. Mboi reacted quickly to score another try off a maul, pushing the score to 24-3.
Substitutes Elkeans Musonye and Amos Obae provided a boost in the second half, with Obae scoring off a loose ball to extend the lead to 29-3. Obae added a second try from the bench before Clinton Odhiambo dived over for a try.
Menengai Oilers players. Photo/Tisap
Oilers added a three-pointer to enter the 40s and that capped off the victory, rounding out a memorable win for the Oilers.
