After weeks of frustration and near misses, Nakuru RFC finally returned to winning ways with a 46–30 victory over Impala RFC in a thrilling Kenya Cup clash at the Nakuru Athletic Club.

‎‎Coming into the fixture on the back of a four-match losing streak, the hosts knew they needed a strong response and they delivered in style, producing one of their most complete performances of the season.

‎‎Nakuru wasted no time asserting themselves. Just eight minutes into the match, Javan Otieno calmly slotted over a penalty to give the hosts a 3–0 lead. Moments later, he turned scorer once again, crossing the line in the 13th minute before adding the conversion to stretch the advantage to 10–0.

‎‎However, Impala quickly regrouped. Meshack Andale ignited the visitors’ comeback with a try, which he converted himself, before Victor Imela added another to swing the momentum in Impala’s favour in the 23rd minute.

‎‎Determined not to let the game slip away, Nakuru regained control in the 29th minute when Kevin Kioko dotted down, with Otieno adding the extras. Although Impala responded with a penalty to keep the scores tight, James Thiongo’s try just before halftime ensured the hosts headed into the break with a 22–15 lead.

‎‎The second half picked up from where the first left off, with both sides maintaining high intensity. Chrissant Ojwang struck early for Nakuru to widen the gap, but Impala stayed within touching distance through a penalty. Ojwang soon completed his brace, with Otieno converting to extend the lead further.

‎‎Andale grabbed his second try of the match 15 minutes into the second half to keep Impala’s hopes alive. Nonetheless, Nakuru remained relentless. In the 60th minute, captain Felix Okoth powered over for a crucial try, converted by the dependable Otieno, who later capped a standout performance by crossing the whitewash himself.

‎‎The encounter was played before a lively home crowd that turned out in large numbers, despite the team’s recent struggles. From the opening whistle, supporters filled the stands with chants, and cheers, urging the Wanyore forward at every opportunity.

‎‎Their energy appeared to lift the players, especially during crucial moments when momentum threatened to shift, creating an electric atmosphere that underscored the importance of the victory.

‎‎Although Brian Ochieng added a late try for Impala, Nakuru had already done enough to seal a morale-boosting win in front of their home supporters. The visitors, however, earned a losing bonus point after scoring four tries in a high-scoring encounter.

‎‎The victory comes as a timely relief for the Wanyore, who had endured a difficult start to 2026 with defeats to KCB Rugby, Menengai Oilers, Kabras Sugar RFC, and Daystar Falcons a run that had seen them slide into the relegation zone.

‎‎With this commanding display, Nakuru RFC will now hope to build momentum as they look to climb up the Kenya Cup standings.

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Nakuru RFC beats Impala to end a four-match winless run

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Muthoni Wanjiku