We start off with the just concluded day 1 of the Hertz sevens in Wellington Newzealand, where the mboys put out a great display winning all their pool matches and march on to the Main Cup Quarters. Here are those results for you:
Kenya 24-12 France
Kenya 12-0 Argentina
Kenya 17-10 Tonga.
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| Oscar Ouma vs France.. (IRB) |
It was a display of pure class from the mboys as they made their intentions clear from the get go, blowing past France the 2012 Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens. We were comfortable in possession for the better part of those games, playing it close even when deep in territory, and unlike in the past we were able to switch gears and swing it wide to our advantage. Defence systems were impeccable, with the opposition falling into our hands quite often, using our big guns to hold them up in possession.Our set pieces were faultless, I don’t remember us losing a ruck, line out or scrum over the entire three games but we did nick a few from the other guys. In the last game where Big M rested most of the guys who started the first two, we did lose our shape a bit when we were 12-10 up but you have to commend the players for bringing it back, that doesn’t always happen, look at Fiji they lost it and lost it Kabisaa.
Moment of the day, Oscar Ouma’s big hit on the France Monsieur, then Andrew’s dummy and run to the line he also ripped the ball off a guy all in the same game. Then Wamae’s debut try and the Gangnam..hehe I had to add that!
We look like a hungrier, meaner, fitter team than we were before and with these other sides looking shaky, this might just be our first okombe, but let’s take it one step at a time.
We meet South Africa next in the Quarter at 5:39 am EA time, a tricky looking fixture but it’s time we had our sweet revenge for the drubbing they handed us at Dubai.
Back home, the various leagues are now in the homestretch with the Nationwide and Chairman’s leagues going into the quarter finals next weekend (9th), with the Eric Shirley and Kenya Cup going into the semi finals a week later (16th). The union announced that all the finals will be played at the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani, with the big one being played under floodlights.
As it stands in the Chairman’s league, Mombasa II and JKUAT Voi make it from the Coast edition with Catholic University and Daystar assured of a place from the University edition. Thika, Comras and Stormers are still in the dog fight for the last two places from the Universities with Thika holding the upper hand. Mombasa poly and KEMU Nairobi look to have all but qualified from the coast edition.
Most sides are done with their fixtures apart from Nazarene who play Kimathi and Comras on Saturday and Sunday respectively. The bottom side might hold the fate of the Comras in their hands.
In the Nationwide, Eldoret RFC lead the Western Conference with Mombasa leading the Eastern into the quarter finals. Masinde Muliro, Kakamega II and Kisii looking good for the three other spots from the Western Conference. The East side sees USIU, Egerton and TUK ‘tuk’ make up the other three. The bulk of the fixtures here will be played in the East as follows:
KCA vs Mombasa
Egerton vs TUK
Multimedia vs Oryx
Kabarak vs JKUAT
The fixture between Egerton and TUK’tuk’ will be basically to decide who finishes 3rd, the position currently held by Egerton with a 5 point advantage.
The only fixture to be played in the west is between Masinde Muliro and Siaya, with Masinde Muliro looking to pip Kakamega II fro 2ndplace they are currently a point off the mark.
In the ESS, only leaders Quins II are guaranteed a place in the semi finals with two game days to spare, they are on 42 points 10 clear of their closest challengers KCB II. The top 6 at this point can lay valid claim for a semi final spot, they are KCB II (32), Mwamba II (30), Impala II (27), Strathmore II (26) and Nakuru II (24). A slip by any of the above and the season may come to an early end.
Leaders Quins II travel to second placed KCB II in what is a must win game for the cubs in order to secure a semi final berth. Quins II bring their impressive unbeaten run to the den after having had two close shaves before against Mwamba II and Strathmore II, will this one be the final shave or will the defending champions leave the den unscathed. Past encounters have had little between the two, expect the same here.
Other fixtures see Nakuru II (6) host Kakamega (11), Strathmore II (5) welcoming BlakBlad II (9) to Madaraka. Third placed Mwamba II welcome last placed Kisumu II with Impala II (4) and Nondies II (7) hosting Machine II (10) and Homeboyz II (8) respectively.
ESS
KCB II vs Quins II
Nakuru II vs Kakamega
Strathmore II vs Blad II
Mwamba II vs Kisumu II
Impala II vs Machine II
Nondies II vs Homeboyz II
In the top flight, things look almost the same as in the second division, with the top 7 all fighting for the 4 available semi final spots. The top 2 are by all means safe but could find themselves in fourth or out of the equation all together in case of a major melt down. Strathmore’s win over Quins last Saturday made sure that their fate lies in their own hands with that of the defending champions hanging by a string.
The seven are in order, KCB (37), Nakuru (37), Strathmore (34), Mwamba (30), Homeboyz (28), Quins (26), Nondies (25).
This Saturday sees third placed Strathmore welcome bottom side Blakblad to Madaraka, the Leos have what could be termed as easy fixtures, their last fixture being away at Kisumu. The last three fixtures have been a morale booster fro the XXVII crew managing to maneuver through the ‘big three’ and come out unscathed in most parts, a draw against KCB, a narrow loss to Nakuru that earned them a bonus and that win over Quins. They now have the manageable task of seeing off their next two opponents and book a berth at the semis. They come up against a blad side that has been the whooping side of the league, with no win in 8 the leos should easily run rings around the blad though this being a university derby you can never be sure.
Impala who are in 9th host 10th placed machine, the two separated by two points. The red shirts have started to find their feet though late in the day, it’s not too, late to push for a respectable finish. They come into this one off the back of two wins and will be looking to make it three in three. It will be remembered that it was Machine who landed the first nail in what has become Impala’s worst season in recent times, with that 17-15 win at the Floodies semi final. The red shirts will be out to revenge that loss and build on the coming competitions. The Eschuma on the other hand have had two narrow losses, to the Bulls and last weekend to Nondies. They will be looking to get back to winning ways against a side they like to play and move into 9th.
After finally breaking into the top four, Mwamba host second from bottom side Ksumu. The black shirts are on a great run of form, 2 wins and a draw in the last three has seen them capitalize on Quins’ deep and move into the Semi final places. All they have to do now is win their last two matches, this one and against Machine to sail to the Semis. The Kondele boys come into this one off a narrow loss to Impala, having beaten Blad with a similar margin. Kisumu will have their work cut out for them as they come up against a determined Kulabu side.
7th placed Nondies host 5th placed Homeboyz at the Red lion, the two sides have been closely following the leading pack on the log for the better part of the season. Now that we are in the homestretch they have started to make their move, unfortunately for one of them this weekend will be the end of the marathon. The red lions come into this one on a 4 game unbeaten run, stretching back to that famous win over Quins. They welcomed back Ken Moseti after an 11 month lay off due to injury and before his introduction at Machine they were trailing 11-8. They will be looking to make it 5 in 5 as they come up against Moseti’s former club. The Djs have by far been this season’s surprise package, after a slow start they have managed to turn their fortunes, they are also on a 4 game winning streak going into this one. These two have a short though rich history, with Homeboyz sort of holding an upper hand.
Second placed Nakuru, after keeping both their unbeaten runs intact against what was their most formidable opposition this far, KCB they welcome a tricky Western bulls to the NAC, now popularly referred to as Suguta valley. In that fixture against KCB, they dominated in the forwards and had the upper hand for large parts of the game. A repeat performance here will see them put a fair amount of points against the Echulusi and depending on results elsewhere go top of the log. The Bulls come into this one having lost their 100% home record, it’s not the ideal time to face the league’s in form team and they will have to pull a flawless display to walk away with anything from the Suguta valley.
The day’s highlight match will take place at the Lions’ den in Ruaraka, Leaders KCB hosting 6th placed Quins. Both sides come into this one off losses, Quins from that drubbing at the hands of the Leos and KCB suffering their first defeat at Nakuru. The defending champions are without a win in their last two and with their Semi final hopes quickly dwindling, a win here is more than a must. The lunch bars remaining fixtures don’t offer much hope either, after this one they welcome Nakuru to the RFUEA. This particular fixture however is a favorite of sorts for Quins having won here last season and with a winning run that stretches to 2011 against the bankers confidence will be high.
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| KCB in past action against Impala at the Den.. |
A first loss for the Lions means they will be in new territory on Saturday, how they react to this situation especially against this opponent, will go a long way in showing that they are indeed serious title contenders.
As mentioned earlier KCB played second fiddle to Nakuru in the forwards, Quins’ forwards have not been at their peak for a while now. Usually this match has always been a battle of the forwards, expect whichever set that shows up to the ball game first to carry the day. Both are backed up by a formidable back line, Quins probably led by Nato Simiyu at 10 will be looking to punch holes in their opponents line. KCB’s backs have been quite impressive over the season and especially at Nakuru, they will be looking to the likes of Edwin Salamba to do the damage for them.
KENYA CUP
Strathmore vs Blakblad
Impala vs Machine
Mwamba vs Kisumu
Nondies vs Homeboyz
Nakuru vs Western Bulls
KCB vs Quins
I should mention here that the Semi final format for the ESS and top flight will be 1 vs 3 and 2 vs 4 with the top two getting home advantage.
Onto my predicions:
Strathmore 50-10 Blakblad
Impala 15-12 Machine
Mwamba 43-20 Kisumu
Nondies 15-27 Homeboyz
Nakuru 35-17 Western Bulls
KCB 20-10 Quins
In my salaamz corner a happy birthday to one Ms. Atieno (@Nyar_Kisumu) who turns somewhere around 79 today, you are already toothless so I guess I should say..Hang in there!! Hehe enjoy..
With that ladies and gents..let’s wake up early tomorrow or rather not sleep at all as we await the mboys to take on the Khoisans…
KWISHA….Nimeruka Nje!!
