100% kicking accuracy saw Geoffrey Ominde score eight consecutive penalties to hand Menengai Oilers a maiden 24-17 win over KCB Rugby which saw them qualify for their maiden Kenya Cup final.
The last time KCB had failed to qualify for the finals was in 2016 when they lost 8-7 to Impala Saracens. Since then, they had qualified for four consecutive finals winning all.
Oilers were making their second straight semi-final appearance with Gibson Weru who had won two Kenya Cup titles with Nakuru RFC keen to lead the side to the first-ever Kenya Cup final.
Ominde’s penalties were enough to end KCB’s dominance in Kenya Cup and handed the side the first ever win over KCB having lost all the previous meetings.
It is the visitors who got on the scoresheet first, Geoffrey Ominde drilled in two successive penalties for his side to lead 6-0 after containing the bankers well. Oilers continued to build the scoreboard with another penalty by Ominde pushing them to 9-0.
The first try of the match came at the 32nd minute, off an attacking scrum, the ball was send to the backs and fullback Darwin Mukidza sliced past Oilers defenders to dive over for KCB’s first five points. He converted his try for KCB to cut the gap to just two points.
Oilers won another penalty just before the halftime whistle and Ominde’s accuracy saw him split the posts for the fourth successive time for his side to lead 12-7 at halftime.
The hosts came back seeking to cut the gap and their surge paid off at the 49th minute. Off a ruck in Menengai Oilers zone, Samuel Asati quickly picked Mukidza with a pass and the full back released the ball to second half substitute Vincent Onyala who touched down for a try that Mukidza easily converted for a 14-12 lead.
At the other end, Oilers won another penalty and Ominde drilled in his fifth for Oilers to reclaim the lead. KCB would then lose Peter Waitere to a yellow card and Ominde got his sixth penalty right for Oilers to move four points up.
The bankers pulled back through Mukidza’s penalty while Ominde added two successive penalties to lead 24-17 with seven minutes to go.
KCB lost Manasseh Oduor to a yellow card and Oilers held on to book kabras in the final.
KCB Rugby: 1. Patrick Ouko 2. Wilfred Waswa 3. Curtis Lilako 4. Davis Chenge 5. Oliver Mang’eni 6. Steve Wamai 7. Andrew Amonde 8. Peter Waitere 9.Samuel Asati 10. Shaban Ahmed 11. Alvin Otieno 12. Max Kangeri 13. Pter Kilonzo 14. Jacob Ojee 15. Darwin Mukidza
Replacements: 16.George Asin 17. Oscar Simiyu 18.Derrick Juma 19. Manaseh Oduor 20. Felix Ojoo 21. Michael Wanjala 22. Vincent Onyala 23. Johnstone Olindi
Menengai Oilers: 1.Edward Mwaura 2. Coleman Were 3. Vincent Mwikhali 4.Wallace Onyango 5. Brian Sinei 6. Nickson Ochieng 7.Clinton Odhiambo 8.Chrispine Shitundo 9.Andrew Odero 10. Geoffrey Ominde 11. Beldad Ogeta 12. John Okoth 13. Dennis Abukuse 14. Sikutwa Austin 15. Davis Nyaundi
Replacements: 16. Stanley Isogol 18. Francis Atiti 18. Destorius Ifedha 19. Ibrahim Ayoo 20.Brian Ndirangu 21. Kevin Mburu 22. G Otieno 23.Eugene Lubanga
