Menengai Oilers II produced a dominant second-half display to overpower MMUST II 48-20 in an entertaining Eric Shirley Shield Western encounter at MMUST Grounds.
MMUST II made a confident start to the contest, drawing first blood through Donald Litali, who crossed for a try and calmly added the conversion to give the hosts a 7-0 lead. Litali was on target again moments later, slotting a penalty to stretch the advantage to 10-0.
Oilers II responded after MMUST were reduced temporarily following a yellow card, with Emmanuel Mulindo touching down to pull one back. Tony Oketch added the extras to cut the deficit to 10-7. The visitors capitalised on their momentum, adding a converted try and later an unconverted effort to take a 19-10 lead into the break.
Oilers II wasted no time after the restart, striking first to extend their tally to 26 points. MMUST II showed resilience, fighting back with a converted try and a penalty to close the gap to 26-20 and briefly raise hopes of a comeback.
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However, that was as close as the hosts would get. Oilers II took full control thereafter, piling on 22 unanswered points to seal a convincing 48-20 victory and underline their strength in the Western Conference.
Elsewhere in ESS Western, Kabras Sugar RFC II were ruthless in a one-sided affair, demolishing Kisumu RFC II 84-3 to send a clear warning to their rivals.
In ESS Eastern, KCB Rugby II edged Nondescripts II 29-23 in a tightly contested match, while KU Blak Blad II secured a hard-fought 26-18 win over Kenya Harlequin II. Daystar Falcons II also impressed, claiming a solid 24-10 victory against Impala Rugby II.
Eric Shirley Shield ESS
– EASTERNKCB Rugby II 29* – 23 Nondescripts II
KU BlakBlad II 26* – 18 Kenya Harlequin II
Daystar Falcons II 24 –- 10 Impala Rugby II
ESS – WESTERN
Kisumu RFC II 03 – 84* Kabras Sugar RFC II
MMUST II 20 – 48* Menengai Oilers II
