Match day 3 of the Bamburi super series and Chair man’s cup at the weekend finally separated the boys from the men.
There was also 7’s action in Roma for the Shujaa, this is where we begin. The mboys made it to the main cup final where they lost to the Roma seven an invitational team that consisted of players from NZ, Fiji, Samoa the likes. It was a great showing by the mboys and goes to show that the future is indeed bright. Here are the collated results from the two days.
Willie in Rome. |
Kenya 47-0 Vigili del fuoco
Kenya 38-0 Georgia
Kenya 36-19 Pacific Isles (Main Cup Quarters)
Kenya 5-5 Argentina A.E.T(Main Cup Semi)
Kenya 10-27 Roma Seven (Main Cup final)
We proceeded to the Final at the expense of Argentina because of our superior points tally, it was the only way to separate the two sides after extra time had failed to do so.
Back home the Chairman’s cup match day 3 was played out in various grounds around the capital and it’s out skirts. Here are the results..
Pool A
Impala 13-12 Kenya Poly.
Homeboyz 21-0 KCB
Pool B
Thika RFC 5-37 BlakBlad
Quins 37-21 Strathmore
Pool C
Catholic Uni 0-24 Oryx
Mwamba 10-5 Chipu
Pool D
Nondies – Multimedia
Machine 3-15 Nakuru
Cant remember the Nondies score which is a shame as I watched the game but Nondies scored 40+ that I am sure hehe, with that the semi final pairings are as follows:
Main Cup Semi finals:
Nakuru vs Impala
Mwamba vs Quins
Plate Semi finals:
Chipu vs Machine
Homeboyz vs strathmore
Bowl Semi finals:
KCB vs Oryx
Nondies vs Blakblad
Shield Semi finals:
Kenya Poly vs Thika RFC
Multimedia vs Catholic University
The semi final pairings are done after all the teams have been ranked regardless of pools, Nakuru was ranked 1st due to their superior points tally, as they were tied on 14 points with Mwamba and Quins. Impala were 4th on 12 points followed by Chipu on 11, Homeboyz and Strath on 10, KCB on 6, Nondies, BlakBlad and oryx on 5 with Kenya Poly, MMU, Catho and Thika completing the log on -1,-2,-4,-4 respectively. The venues of those matches will be communicated.
The Bamburi super series also played out it’s final pool matches at the weekend with some great match ups on the card. Though most results were as expected, how they were reached wasn’t as straight forward. Here are those results for you:
Pool A
Sharks 43-17 Coastal Bulls
Lions 24-19 Cheetahs
Pool B
Rhinos 25-18 Buffaloes
Rwenzori 19-10 Victoria
At the Jamuhuri park a slightly changed Sharks side had to dig in deep for the win, after they found themselves trailing 17-7 at one point with the Bulls looking set to cause a major upset. The Sharks started with Daniel Mubea at full back and Andola coming in for Adimo who was travelling to France with USIU among the changes to the side.With 10 minutes of the first half to play quick tries by Cyprian Kuto and Ian Were saw them go into the break 19-17 ahead. The Sharks came out with all the teeth ready to bite, scoring 4 tries to win their first game in this year’s edition to seal third place in Pool A.The Bulls remain win less in their super series history, but not for long..judging by their performances this year.
In Nakuru the defending champions Rhinos had to deal with a scare too at the hands of the Buffaloes before sealing their semi final spot. The Rhinos had taken the lead through a converted Dennis Muhanji try and an Agero penalty, before the Buffaloes pulled a comeback and took the lead 18-10 courtesy of tries from Cyrus Kuya and Bram Shikanda, George Oduor with two penalties and a conversion to take the score to 18-10, K’opondo managing to reduce the deficit to 3 points with a try to take the scores to 18-15 at the half. The second half saw the Rhinos score two tries through K’opondo and Victor Sudi to earn their semi final spot.
In Kampala, the Rwenzori cemented their dominance over the Victoria in recent times, as they beat their Ugandan counter parts 19-10. It was a soggy affair at the Kyadondo Rugby club after the rains that pounded the Ugandan capital hours before kick off meaning the game suffered from the state of the pitch..and they say the RFUEA ground is poor..mxxxssss waaahh! (that is how Ugandans sneer by the way) It was a tight affair on the mini lake with both sides failing to take their chances, the game going into the half at 3-3. The Rwenzori would then take the game by the scuff leading 9-3 on their way to winning it 19-10 and book their second semi final appearance in two years.
The second game at the Jamuhuri grounds was an epic battle of the big cats..the Lions vs the Cheetahs. Both were had already qualifies for the semis coming into this one. It was the lions who settled into the game faster, their forwards dominating the proceedings starving the Cheetahs of possession. They were awarded a penalty after an infringement at the ruck, the yellow boot of Fabian Olando which was spot on on the day giving the Lions their first points. The Cheetahs would however get back into the game and level on points via a Vincent Mose penalty. The Lions would forge ahead through the choo choo train that is Collins Injera Olando making no mistake from the conversion to make it 10-3. The Cheetahs again refused to lie down with Vincent Mose scoring at the corner and converting to make it 10 ups. Olando making sure the Lions go into the break with the lead through two penalties, the last one a massive 40 metre kick. Though the TMO denied the Lions a further lead when Dennis Mwanja try was denied.
Who said the Cheetah is faster than the Lion? (photo from the Prowling Lions page) |
The second half saw the Lions dominate possession and the territory play, their forwards taking the game to the Cheetahs. Olando again stretching that lead to 19-10, the Cheetahs failing to narrow that gap via a Mose penalty. The Lions were doing well to hold out the Cheetahs whenever they attacked and played a great territorial game via the ever green Lavin Asego. The Lions would stretch that lead after great work again by the forwards, this time the TMO seeing no reason not to award the try to the Lions’ captain. Olando missing his first kick of the match to make it 24-10. Again the Lions forwards Moses Amusala, Edwin Machanje, Oliver Mangeni, Curtis Lilako and Dennis Mwanja doing the damage. But it was the Cheetahs who scored to narrow the gap to 9 points, Vincent Mose getting his brace. The game would end with the score remaining the same.
It was a great balanced performance from the Lions who stifled the life out of the Cheetahs side, letting them see very little of the ball and making sure that when they had it, they played in their half. Top performers from this one were Dennis Mwanja, Man of the Match Edwin ‘Pablo’ Machanje, Curtis Lilako, Fabian Olando who had a 67% kick rate, missing only two of his six attempts at goal. Vincent Mose the outstanding performers for the Cheetahs was Vincent Mose.
With those games the semi final pairings :
Lions vs Rhinos
Rwenzori vs Cheetahs
That loss means the Cheetahs have to travel to Kampala to play the Rwenzori, it’s going to be a tough match but one that the Cheetahs can win. The other semi sees a repeat of the 2008 final..that one ending 33-9 to the Lions. More on these games in the weekend’s preview.
Remember when I mentioned that Isaac Adimo will be in France with U.S.I.U…yes the students will be playing at the France sevens at the weekend. They travelled on Sunday for that tournament, here’s the squad..
1.Nathan Mwanza (Captain)
2.Isaac Adimo
3.Albert Nandi
4.Sam Mucai
5.Silvans Ngere
6.Justus Akiruga
7.Kevin Gisore
8.Brian Lukhano
9.Ian Ndwiga (Vice Captain)
10.Lesanjir Marious
11.Tyson Ndune
12.Wilbye Mbabu (Team Manager)
Finally..the 2012 Black Rock Champions are……THE PATCH MACHINE!!! They beat saints 38-17 or something of the sort.Well in Boys, up next Prescott!
With that Ladies and Gentlemen……have a great week aaaaannnndddddd….
KWISHA…nimeruka nje!!!!!