KCB fry Oilers, Kabras chew Nondies to set up crunch Kenya Cup final

The 2023/2024 Kenya Cup final will be a familiar affair between two foes who have dominated the Kenyan rugby scene for over a decade as defending champions Kabras Sugar and KCB RFC all emerged victorious in their respective semi-finals to book a final date.

Kabras Sugar threw down the gauntlet and showed why they are revered and feared in equal measure as they raced to a 10-0 lead in the opening exchanges against Nondescripts at the Kakamega Showground.

Ntabeni Dukisa had chalked the opening three points on the board for the Sugar men with Griffin Chao following almost immediately with a converted try. Nondies hit back with two quick penalties to reduce the deficit to 10-6.

Moments later, the evergreen Ntabeni Dukisa went over the whitewash but his conversion swayed wide -  leaving the scores 15-6 heading into half time.

Kabras Sugar started where they had left off scoring two quick tries through Barry Robinson and Captain George Nyambua.

Griffin Chao and substitute Bryceon Adaka added a try each with Nondies landing another penalty to end the encounter 37-9 in favor of the defending champions.

In the second semifinal pitting KCB RFC against Menengai Oilers, rugby fans in the capital were treated to a thriller as both teams went blow to blow until the closing minutes of the match.

They traded penalties in the opening exchanges with KCB scoring the opening penalty but Oilers responded with two of their own to take the lead 3-6 at the Den.

KCB’s Vincent Onyala fresh from co-captaining the national Sevens side Shujaa sent their fans into delirium after he scored the opening try of the game to put the bankers back into a 8-6 lead heading to the break.

The start of the second half was similar to that of the first half with both teams scoring two penalties each to put the scores to 14-12

With the scores remaining level the better part of the second half, KCB capitalised on incessant errors from Oilers to score their second try of the game which was converted by former Chipu captain Michael Wamalwa to send KCB to the Kenya Cup final.

KCB RFC will now face their archrivals Kabras Sugar at their backyard in Kakamega.