Menengai Oilers are the 2024/2025 Eric Shirley Shield Champions after grinding a 15-12 win over KCB in a match staged at the KCB sports Club.
It is the first for Oilers ending a long and beating KCB who had finished the season unbeaten and have enjoyed dominance in the competition for years.
Menengai Oilers penalties
In an evening that saw no tries scored, Oilers drilled in five penalties, while KCB slotted in three of their own and a solitary drop kick.
Oilers drapped in their purple livery would leak first after Alvin Khavoli failed to field the kick offⁿ9, his later attempt under pressure succesful but would attract a penalty for not releasing. KCB would pin Oilers in their 22, threatening each time before settling for the penalty kick as the Nakuru based outfit struggled to hold their onside positions for a 3-0 lead early on.
Territorial control and possesion would switch to Oilers straight off the restart, twice opting to find touch from the penalty spot before losing possesion in the scrum; sending the contest to the middle of the pitch.
Oilers were struggling to find fluidity in the set piece and pressure in the lineout would force an error a phase later to allow Lionel Ajeliti add a further three pointer from just outside the 22 to make it 6-0.
A 50-22 by Davis Nyaundi would go to unappreciated as KCB lost the resulting lineout before Beldad Ogeta was caught wrong footed by a kick sent into the skies by Nyaundi to swing possesion to the Bankers who would go on to enjoy prolonged dominance only for Thomas Okidia’s attempt to be ruled for a held up in the scoring area.
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Erick Ogutu would give Oilers their first points of the day at the death of the first stanza, splitting the uprights from slightly outside the 22 meter mark, KCB’s defence line deemed offside on this occasion.
Oilers opened the second stanza brightly, Ogutu pulling them level from a kick on the 22 after his break into the Banker’s red zone did not bear fruit, the referee calling it back for an offside against the green defence.
Levi Amunga would get another three pointer for the Bankers to retake the lead after continued pressure bore a penalty as Oilers staged a resolute defence on their five to deny the Bankers a try, scores now 9-6.
Ogutu would pull Oilers level once again with another three pointer from close to 30 meters out before Amunga slotted in a drop kick for the Bankers to retake the lead, scores 12-9 at this point.
Two further kicks by Ogutu for Oilers would make it 12-15 in favour of the visitors who would then hold on to the lead as KCB shot themselves on the foot, the referee judged the lineout throw not straight to end the clash.
