South Coast Pirates orchestrated a remarkable come-from-behind to secure a 26-18 win over Impala RFC in an entertaining KRU Championship clash staged at the Seacrest grounds Diani.
The first half saw Impala dominating the proceedings. Their precision in set pieces and effective ball distribution gave them an early 3-0 lead after a well-taken penalty.
Pirates leading point scorer Kelly Akengo drew the host level with a successful penalty goal to take the scores to 3-3.
Impala RFC would later on get their first try of the match which was uncoverted to reclaim their lead. Moments later, Pirates winger Devin Abuga cut short Impala’s celebration after he went over for the hosts, Kelly Akengo missed the extras. Impala would stretch their lead further when they got another penalty goal just before halftime to lead 11-8 at the break.
From the break, the Pirates showed a lot of guts and grits as they scored two more tries and a penalty goal to grab a comeback victory. It was first Kelly Akengo who drilled home a penalty goal to level the scores at 11-11 before fleet-footed winger Brighton Omondi danced past Impala’s defence to touch down, as cheers erupted from the sea crest.
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The Men from Kwale were not done yet, subsequent pressure from their scrum and much-improved line-outs troubled the visitors and it was not long before Sospeter Rofino burged over to score the home team’s last try of the match, in what was his first try in red and black, to give his side a 26-11 commanding lead.
As the clock ticked down, Impala pulled one try back but it was too late to salvage a comeback from Pirates as the center referee signaled the end of the tie with scores reading 26-18 in favour of the SC Pirates.
MMUST picked a huge win thrashing UoE 74 – 12 at MMUST Grounds while Daystar Falcons whipped Kabraka University 39-12. JKUAT beat Western Bulls 19-3.
CHAMPIONSHIP
JKUAT 19 – 03 Western Bulls
Mean Machine 15 – 18 USIU
Masinde Muliro 74 – 12 University of Eldoret
Daystar Falcons 39 – 12 Kabarak University
South Coast Pirates 26 – 18 Impala RFC
