Nondescripts and Menengai Oilers book Kenya Cup semis

Kenya Harlequin Sheldon Kahi (left) and Sankara Wafula of Nondies fight for the ball during Kenya Cup play-offs at RFUEA Grounds on March 16, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Record Kenya Cup champions Nondescripts on Saturday came from 20-7 down to trounce Kenya Harlequin 26-20 at RFUEA Grounds at the death to qualify for the semi-finals slated for next weekend.

The 17-time champions will now face off against defending champions Kabras Sugar in the semis set to be played at the ASK Kakamega Showgrounds, Kakamega.

Interestingly, this was the second time Nondies were coming from behind to edge out Quins, with the first time being last week when the 2023-2024 regular season ended.

In that match, Nondies rallied from behind (13-6) to win 21-13.

It was a similar story yesterday at RFUEA grounds where despite taking a 7-0 lead early into the game after Dominic Osino scored a try that was converted by Moseti Nyaenya, Nondies found themselves trailing.

Two quick fire penalties by Evin Asena cut the lead to 7-6 before Quins went 13-7 up at half time when Richel Wangila touched down a try that was converted by Acena.

Kenya Harlequin and Nondies players in action during Kenya Cup play-offs at RFUEA Grounds on March 16, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

In the second half, Quins thought they had sealed the semi-finals spot when they extended their lead after their tight-head prop budged over for a 20-7 lead but Nondies had other ideas.

Two late tries by Charles Omondi and Fred Shisia who latched on an intercept before running over 40m to score with a conversion from Moseti Nyaenya to bring the scores to 20-19.

Nondies would land the winning try late in the game through Steve Omondi converted by Nyaenya to win the game 26-20.

In Nakuru, Menengai Oilers thrashed Blak Blad 26-12 to book another semi-final match up with KCB.

Oilers finished third in the regular 2023-2024 Kenya Cup season behind defending champions Kabras Sugar and KCB Rugby to qualify for the play-offs with the highlight of the season being their stunning 21-7 win over KCB.

This will be a rematch of the 2022 semifinals where Geoffrey Ominde converted eight penalties as Menengai Oilers knocked out the then Kenya Cup defending champions KCB 24-17 in to qualify for the finals which they lost to Kabras Sugar in Kakamega.

Kenya Cup semis

Kabras Sugar v Nondies

KCB v Menengai Oilers