By BS Mulavi
A superb performance by a well -drilled Cheetahs side condemned hapless Lions to a humiliating 52-17 drubbing in the first game of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series at the RFUEA grounds.
The Lions looked helpless as the Cheetahs imposed themselves on the game to grab a much deserved victory after scoring tries through Victor Mose, Kelvin Omiyo, Gray Cullen and Nato Simiyu.
The Cheetahs comprising Nondies and Impala players were quick of the block to score three early tries through their backline players and just as
Lions started to correct their defensive lapses at the backline, the Cheetahs tactfully switched play to the forwards who were exceptional in set pieces.
The lions quickly got frustrated and a yellow card to front row Moses Omusala summed up their day.
Impala coach Charles Ngovi was elated by the victory and said: "The scores speak for themselves, we were simply outstanding today and we rightfully deserved the victory."
"The tournament organisers have awarded Lawrence Buyachi the man of the match award, but to me the whole team was exceptional, for me Nato had one of his best games, Gray Cullen though injured played very well, Mose ran the length of the pitch to score two tries, so it is very hard to pick out who was the best," he added.
Lions forward Moses Omusala shrugged off the poor performance and promised the team will pick up next weekend.
"We didn’t play particularly well today, and we are very mad at ourselves, but the defeat has helped us to see where we are going wrong and come next week we will be a different team," said Omusala.
Scintillating fashion
The second match of the day saw Champions Rhinos start their title defence in scintillating fashion by whitewashing Mumias Sugar Buffaloes 61-0.
Buffaloes could simply not match Rhinos’ pace and power. Rhinos, which is composed of Kenya Harlequin and Nakuru scored through Sidney Ashioya, Vincent Ongera and in the process they went down in the local history books as the first team who have had one of their tries awarded by a video referee.
Richmond Baraza powered through four tackles to cross the line only for assistant referee Constant Cap to judge that Baraza had dropped the ball.
Referee Raymond Oruo stuck with his gut and opted to use the video referee who promptly awarded the try.
In Tanzania, Kenya Universities side Sharks mauled the Twigas of Tanzania 79-3 in a one-sided affair.
