Menengai Oilersโ Kenya Cup title ambitions went up in smoke after a 35-17 defeat to Nondescripts RFC in a quarterfinal clash played on Saturday, 18 April at the Nakuru Athletic Club.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe loss marked a bitter conclusion to what had promised to be a breakthrough season for the 2024/25 finalists, who were chasing a maiden Kenya Cup title.Instead, Gibson Weruโs charges are now set to end their 15s campaign without silverware, having also fallen 29-20 to Kabras RFC in the Enterprise Cup semifinal just a week earlier.๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐. ๐A tough result in the playoffs, not the finish we dreamed of, but the badge was carried with pride through out the season. To our fans, partners, and everyone who stood with us we say AHSANTE SANA. pic.twitter.com/0Y0WZh6Arrโ Menengai Oilers (@MenengaiOilers) April 18, 2026 Oilersโ struggles had begun to surface earlier in the season. A 25-15 loss to KCB in February handed them their first defeat, before another setback against Kabras dented their hopes of securing a home semifinal advantage.Though they eventually earned a home playoff, their performances failed to match expectations when it mattered most.In contrast, Nondies arrived in Nakuru as clear underdogs. Fresh from a 20-17 loss to Stanbic Bank Pirates in the Enterprise Cup semifinal in Uganda, they were dealing with travel fatigue and inconsistent form throughout the season.Hong Kong 7s: Kenya Sevens semis quest undone by South Africa's last-gasp tryTheir playoff qualification itself came down to a final-day victory over relegated MMUST Rugby.Adding to the odds stacked against them, their last meeting with the Oilers had ended in a crushing 41-6 defeat. However, Nondies turned the script around in emphatic fashion, delivering a clinical performance to book a semifinal date with KCB Rugby.Strathmore Leos 25-27 Blak BladElsewhere, Kenyatta Universityโs Blak Blad produced a dramatic performance to eliminate Strathmore Leos 27-25 in a pulsating encounter at the Strathmore Sports Complex, popularly known as โThe Cageโ.QUALIFIED! BLAK BLAD ADVANCE TO KENYA CUP SEMIFINALS! Blak Blad advance to Kenya Cup Semifinals after knocking out Strathmore Leos in a Playoffs clash at Strathmore University Grounds Full-time Scores:Strathmore Leos 25,Blak Blad 27Blak Blad will be playing Kabras Sugarโฆ pic.twitter.com/cO9g8JkokDโ Jonathan Bilaso (@ItsBilaso) April 18, 2026 Blad struck first through a quick try by Arcadius Kwesa, with Daniel Oyoo adding the extras for an early lead. The hosts responded through captain Arnold Muita, whose accurate boot kept Leos within touching distance, eventually edging them ahead 15-13 at halftime after a series of penalty conversions.The second half delivered even more intensity, with both sides trading blows in a fiercely contested battle. Obat Kuke restored Bladโs momentum with a converted try, before Collins Maina and Elton Amalemba crossed over to keep the hosts in contention.Kenya Sevens legend Collins Injera on managing a successful marriage for 11 yearsWith the game hanging in the balance, Blad found the decisive moment in the closing stages.Substitute Benjamin Rugar powered over for the winning try, and Oyoo calmly slotted the conversion to seal victory and send the travelling fans into celebration.Blak Blad will now face Kabras RFC in the semifinals.
195