Thunder strikes as Kabras Sugar finish Kenya Cup unbeaten
Rugby
By
Washington Onyango
| Feb 25, 2023
Kabras Sugar ended the 2022-2023 Kenya Cup unbeaten after coming from behind to edge off rivals Menengai Oilers 15-13 in a weather troubled Rai Derby match that was called off due to thunder and lightning strikes at Kakamega Showgrounds on Saturday.
The win saw the sugar men finish top with 52 points and sealed the rights to host the Kenya Cup finals for a fourth consecutive time away from Nairobi in Kakamega.
According to the Kenya Rugby Union, the club that finishes top at the end of the 11-round regular season will host the 2023 Kenya Cup final.
Beldad Ogeta touched down the game's first try that was converted by Geoffrey Ominde who later stretched the scores to 10-0 after adding a penalty.
Ntabeni Dukisa replied for Kabras with a penalty to trail 10-3 before former MMUST star Lameckl Ambetsa scored an unconverted try to cut the gap to 10-8.
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In the final half, Eugene Sifuna scored Kabra's second try of the match that would be converted by Dukisa to lead for the first time 15-10.
Ominde the split the posts with another penalty to trail 15-13 before the match was stopped due to thunder and lightning.
After more than 10 minutes, the officials agreed alongside the two teams to finish the game due to bad weather.
Speaking after finishing the season unbeaten, Kabras head coach Carlos Katywa said he is ready for playoffs.
Katywa who took over from his South African counterpart Jerome Muller at the beginning of the 2022-2023 season said he is planning for more squad rotation to refresh the squad ahead of their finals which they will host for a record fourth consecutive time.
"We played very bad at the beginning of the match where we gave Oilers a lot of space and time that they used to hurt us but am pleased with the way the boys reacted. We of cause need to be alert when games to go our way at the beginning," said Katywa.
"This season has been all about how to finish games. I am very happy we finished unbeaten and now we turn our focus to the playoffs and Enterprise Cup."
Kabras finish top with 52 points, a point above KCB. Both clubs have booked home semifinals playoff spots.
Saturday's Kenya Cup results
Mean Machine 5-49 KCB
Catholic Monks 12-26 Nakuru
Homeboyz 24-36 Blak Blad
MMUST 14-18 Mwamba
Kabras Sugar 15-13 Menengai Oilers
Quins 32-18 Strathmore Leo