Strathmore Leos opened their Kenya Cup campaign with a hard-fought win, holding off a spirited Blak Blad side in a tense derby at the Kenyatta University grounds.
Blad started with intent, pinning the visitors inside their 22 for several phases but failing to turn early pressure into points. Their missed chances proved costly when Strathmore’s Arnold Muita slotted a ninth-minute penalty to break the deadlock.
Blak Blad hit back
The hosts hit back almost immediately. Quick ball from the breakdown saw Blad cross in the 12th minute, with the conversion sailing through for a 7–3 lead.
Strathmore replied through winger Elton Amalemba, who finished a sweeping move out wide. Muita, however, missed the extras, leaving the visitors trailing by a single point.
Leos regained control from a dominant scrum, with Brian Mwenda touching down in the corner for a 15–7 advantage after Muita converted. Blad’s frustration grew when their player sent to the bin for an offside infringement moments after they had missed a penalty that could have narrowed the gap.
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Strathmore made the numerical advantage count. A knock-on from Blad handed Leos another scrum platform, and smart handling released Collins Maina on the left wing for their third try. Muita struck the upright, keeping the scores at 20–7.
Blad steadied themselves late in the half, first cutting the deficit with a penalty before striking again with a well-worked move down the left. The successful conversion brought them within three at 17–20 going into the break.
Strathmore restarted brightly. Straight from kick-off, Thomas Opio pounced on a loose ball to crash over, with Muita converting for a 27–17 cushion. The tempo remained high but both sides tightened defensively, leaving Blad to chip away through two penalties that reduced the margin to 23–27.
The second half lacked the try-fest of the opening 40s, but Strathmore found another breakthrough from a scrum deep in Blad territory, extending the lead to 32–23 after Muita’s missed conversion.
Blad refused to roll over. Sustained pressure and multiple penalties inside Leos territory paved the way for a try from the full-back out wide. The conversion sailed through, setting up a nervy finish at 30–32.
With the final seconds ticking away, a penalty against Blad allowed debutant Amon Wamalwa to drill the ball into touch, sealing a narrow but crucial win for Strathmore in the university derby.
