Being the overall winners of last year KRU Women’s Festival, Impala Ladies made a name for themselves again as they cruise to the final, after a deadly final against the #RFamily ladies, of Stanbic Mwamba.
In the second leg of the 10-a-side Kenya Rugby Women’s league, teams landed at the KCB Ruaraka Sports Club ground. In front of delighted local fans, the women all rose to high standards, with the ‘mightier’ ladies showing their class in Nairobi.
Pool Matches entertain Kenyan Women’s Rugby fans
The morning began with many amazing pool matches, as the first seven games ended with the losing team going without touching the opponent’s try line. Comras Rugby, Kisumu Dolphins and Bladbabes lost all their early pool matches, as the ‘heavy hitters’ of TopFry Nakuru, Menengai Cream Homeboyz and the Impala ladies, each winning games – some easily, others with pure confidence and well drilled play – to all book their seats at the KRU Women’s festival semifinal knockout stages.
Mwamba joined the top three in the semi’s, even after they lost to Impala Ladies twice, with the exact same score [5-15].
The host’s Northern Suburbs were comfortable sitting fifth place after losing only one game to Homeboyz in the pool matches. In the ranking semis, they defeated Kisumu 10-0. They faced Shamas and bravely won the game for the packed fans of Simba Rugby who cheered them to a 14-5 win.
Impala ladies shine on #kruwomensfestival #kruwomensleague pic.twitter.com/hEy2L6XmzJ
— Lens Eye Images (@LensEyeImage) February 18, 2019
In the cup finals, the games had to go for drop goals as Mwamba drew 0-0 with Nakuru and winning the drop goals 3-2. Impala Ladies were unstoppable even after ending the game 5-5, they booked their place in the final by winning the ‘kick off’ in drop goals 4-3, against Homeboyz.
Final victory produces ‘top spot’ for Impala Ladies
Homeboyz silenced the winners in the first half 10-0, with tries at both halves and settling for third place overall. Mwamba; who brought their ‘a game’ to this leg, tried with all their might to at least slide a win towards their side.
Impala on the other hand, as their proud history suggests, never cease to amaze. The women defeated Mwamba ladies 15-5, to show the opposition ‘who is Boss’. They now book their place in top spot on the table (see below), ahead of Nakuru by a slender margin after two rounds of the five scheduled.
The Impala Ladies are top of the #KRUWomensFestival standings table having appeared in the two finals; Losing to Nakuru in the first leg and beating Mwamba in the second leg. pic.twitter.com/CM023s6qh7
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) February 18, 2019
Full results: KRU Women’s Festival
7th place playoff: Kisumu 7 Comras 0
5th place playoff: Northern Suburbs 14 Shamas 5
3rd place playoff: Homeboyz 10 Nakuru 0
KRU Women’s Festival cup final: Impala 15 Mwamba 5
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KRU Women’s festival now set for mid-term break
The ladies teams will take some time off, and look to strengthen their team’s fitness and stamina, before the third round of the Kenya Women’s Rugby league restarts on March 3, at RFUEA grounds.
Each of the scheduled five legs is a boost for the women’s game in Kenya, as well as across Africa. Follow all the 2019 action, with Last Word on Rugby correspondent Mcee Auzutopshutter.
“Main photo credit – courtesy of Denis Acre-Half”
