Kabras Sugar crowned Kenya Cup champions for fourth year in a row

Kabras Sugar RFC beat Menengai Oilers 27-26 in Kakamega to win the Kenya Cup for the fourth straight time and cement their legacy as one of the great club rugby sides in Kenyan rugby.

Played at a packed Kakamega Forest Stadium on Saturday, Kabras held off a late surge from their rivals from Nakuru to become only the third ever side after Nondescripts and Impala RFC to win four straight titles in a row.

With the win, Kabras, who were in their tenth final in a row, completed yet another season unbeaten, extending their dominance of the local 15 a side rugby scene.

The victory will be even sweeter for the Sugarmen who were pushed to the absolute limit by a determined Oilers side that was eager to upset their rivals at their backyard.

Kabras fly half Ntabeni Dukisa opened the scoring for the home side with an early penalty to make it 3-0, but the Oilers hit back through Timothy Omela's penalty to make it 3-3.

Eugene Sifuna then powered over for Kabras off a ruck to make it 8-3 to the home side.

Dukisa converted to make it 10-3 at a noisy and fan-filled Bull Ring Stadium in the precincts of the Kakamega Forest.

Omela though, kept the Oilers in the game with another penalty conversion to make it 10-6 and despite pressure from the home side who dominated territory throughout the match, he added another penalty to make it 10-9.

Tension was now high as the home crowd sensed that they were not getting their due return.

Kabras, though, like the four-time champions they are, hit back immediately through a try from the enterprising Griffins Chao, who scored at the corner after good play from midfield.

Dukisa nailed the conversion for a 17-9 halftime lead.

The second half began with continued Kabras dominance, and it paid off when center Walter Okoth powered over after Kabras had pushed their rivals deep into their 22-yard box, thanks to enterprising play from the excellent Dukisa.

Following another conversion from Dukisa, it was suddenly 24-9, and the Oilers were looking outclassed.

However, the Oilers came back into the match thanks to a number of unforced errors by Kabras unforced errors.

Omela secured another penalty to make it 24-12 and then a few minutes later, a poor kick by Kabras fullback Eric Cantona was seized by the visitors with their center Samuel Ovwamu bursting through unnoposed to score a try that Omela converted.

It was suddenly 24-19, and the tension could be felt in Kakamega once again.

Kabras managed to extend their lead through an Alfred Orege penalty to make it 27-19.

However, with three minutes to go, more defensive mistakes by Kabras allowed the Oilers a series of penalties in the five-yard box, and eventually, after many restarts, they secured a last-minute converted through Elkeans Musonye, which was converted by Omela to make it 27-26.

Despite a hectic last minute, Kabras held on for their fourth Kenya Cup title in a row, joining an illustrious list of clubs to achieve a four peat.