Strathmore Leos staged a second-half comeback to secure a 21-14 win against hosts coached former coach Loius Kisia Impala in a matchday seven fixture played at the Impala Grounds.
Leos who were trailing 11-0 at halftime scored thrice in the second period to pick a much-needed second win of the season.
The home team was quick to stamp authority from the word go and would have the students on the back foot for the majority of the opening half of the first stanza with big carries from the forwards as the backs looked to up the tempo with each phase of play. Strathmore’s defence was able to soak in the pressure, only allowing in six points from the boot of Sultan Mikael as the match flew past the quarter-hour mark.
Leos’ first real chance would come off an Impala error, Gideon Makumi losing touch with his centres from a scrum setpiece to allow Gabriel Ayimba to carry the ball into the 22-meter line. They would then blow a chance at reducing the deficit from the penalty, opting to go for a lineout which they missed allowing Quinto Ongo to clear his lines.
The next chance to score would fall to the Gazzeles, Sultan chipping the ball behind his defender for the ball to fall into the hands of Israel Soi who was running a good support line for the first try of the game. Sultan’s attempt at the conversion sailed wide to the right as the home side settled into an 11-0 lead. There would be further scoreless exchanges between the two before the referee called for a break in play.
Strathmore were all guns out as they received just outside their 22 to get the second stanza ticking. A slick exchange by the front rows allowed hooker Dennis Tubei to break the line and use his huge strides to carry Leos into the Imapala 22. Several gruelling carries near the posts would allow Strathmore their first try and points of the match to make 11-7, Impala still in the lead.
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Impala would add three points to their tally moments later to double the difference before being reduced to 14 men as the referee brandished the yellow for an unlucky tap on the ball. Leos would then mount another attack, destroying the Impala scrum before George Ooro picked a loose ball to dive over a pile of bodies, Arnold Muita adding the extra twos to draw the game level, scores now 14-14.
Strathmore would cap their reinvigorated second half perfomance with yet another try, this time Muita recognizing space behind the defence before sending it for a chasing Mathew Mogaya to ground it. The conversion by Muita on target again to send Leos into the lead for the first time in the clash with less than three minutes left on the clock.
That would be the last score of the match as Impala’s last ditch efforts crumbled as they lost the ball in the ruck, allowing Leos a simple kick out to call time to the thrilling encounter. Scores 21-14 at full time.
