Luvisia Amanga
Blak Blad confirmed a fifth-place finish in the Kenya Cup standings after a hard-fought 20-7 win over Impala in a rescheduled fixture played at Kenyatta University Grounds on Saturday.
The match, which had initially been postponed due to an unplayable pitch, carried significant implications for both sides, Blad chasing a playoff slot and Impala fighting to steer clear of relegation trouble.
It was a cagey opening half, with both teams struggling to impose themselves. The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when experienced winger Achadius Khwesa crossed over for the hosts’ first try. Daniel Ochieng added the conversion to give Blad a narrow 7-0 lead at the break.
Impala responded early in the second half, with Quinto Ongo slotting in a penalty just five minutes after the restart to cut the deficit to 7-3.
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Blak Blad, however, quickly regained control. Elvis Otete powered over for a try to stretch the lead to 12-3, though the conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Ochieng then extended the advantage with a well-taken penalty before George Ambale sealed the result with a late try, pushing the score to 20 points.
Impala managed a late consolation through Derrick Kinyari, but it was not enough to spark a comeback as Blad held firm to see out the victory.
The result guarantees Blak Blad a return to the playoffs this season, underlining their consistency in the competition. For Impala, the defeat leaves them just four points above the relegation zone, but still assured of their Kenya Cup status for next season.
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