Menengai Oilers deny KCB bonus point win

Antony Maina (with ball) of Menengai Oilers RFC tackled by KCB RFC markers during their Kenya Cup match at KCB Grounds in Nairobi on February 12, 2022. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Defending champions KCB were forced to dig deep as they came from behind multiple times to defeat Menengai Oilers 23-18 in a close Kenya Cup match played at KCB Sports Club on Saturday.

The bankers were limited to only two tries in a match which was won on penalties as they missed on bonus point victory.

Oliver Mang’eni scored the opening try before the bankers doubled their lead at the far right corner for a 14-0 lead in the opening 15 minutes.

Oilers would however stage a comeback with Geoffrey Ominde drilling in four penalties that saw them head to the break trailing 14-12.

In the final half, Ominde picked from where he left after splitting the posts with his fifth successive three pointer as Oilers led for the first time 15-14.

Darwin Mukida responded with KCB’s first penalty to retake the lead 17-15 before Oilers regained the lead minutes later with Ominde getting his sixth straight penalty.

Mukidza responded with two penalties as KCB won 23-18.

The win left KCB second on the log with 40 points as Oilers remained third on 34 points.