It was a weekend of champions as the 2012/13 league season came to an end in front of an estimated crowd of 6,000 at the Moi International Sports Center Kasarani.
 |
| The Trophies. |
The Chairman’s league final got proceedings under way with the Catholic Monks managing to get past the Daystar Falcons 16-9. The Monks were first to the board through a Brian Odongo unconverted try and kept the lead to the break at 8-3. The Falcons had the upper hand in the second half creating chance after chance but failing on every occasion to breach the Monks defence as the scores remained pegged at 8-3. Catholic would stretch their lead from a Forster Arens try from a counter attack, followed by a Geoffrey Ominde penalty to make it 16-3. By this point the frustrations were evident in the Falcons camp and they could only manage two penalties from Brian Wandera to add to the one he slotted in the first half to end the game at 16-9.
 |
| All Hail the Chairman’s League Champions 2012/13 – The Monks. |
The ESS final was next in line, the impressive defending champions the Arturos of Quins up against the Cubs of KCB. The Cubs made a bright start to this one, looking to be the first side to beat their opponents in 2 seasons. They could however not turn this period of dominance into points as the Arturos slowly settled into the game and making forrays into the cubs territory. Two quick tries from Brian Omino and eventual Top try scorer in this league Paul Abuto saw the Arturos take complete charge of the game at 12-0. A Xavier Makuba try gave the cubs a glimpse of hope just before the break at 12-5.
 |
| Allan Omuka of the Arturos against Musita of the Cubs. |
The second half saw the cubs start clawing their way back, a Shomba try brought them to within 2 points of the Arturos at 12-10. Two penalties from Ian Chewaini gave his side an 8 point cushion as they looked to cruise to the title. The cubs now down to 14 men after one player was sent to the bin battled bravely and could have scored on three different occasions but failed to because of rush decisions and the resolute defending by the Arturos. Jared Owinyo’s try from an Arturos break drove the last nail in the Cubs coffin as Ina Chewaini made no mistake from his boot to make the score at the final whistle 25-10.
This Arturos complete their second consecutive unbeaten season and thus keep the ESS title, their unprecedented success is down to an unchanging core of players that have played together for close to 4 seasons. Unlike other clubs where the second team changes every weekend with promotion and demotions to the first team.
 |
| All Hail the E.S.S Champions…THE ARTUROS!! |
This paved the way for the 3rdfinal of the day, that of the Nationwide league, this one pitted Eldoret RFC from the Western Conference against Egerton University of the Eastern Conference.
The Egerton Wasps were quickest off the blocks racing to a 8-0 lead, before Bunyasi of Eldoret narrowed that lead after crossing the chalk to make it 8-5. Donald Oluoch of the Wasps however ensured his side held a more comfortable lead into the break from a penalty making it 11-5.
The Second half saw Eldoret go all out to turn the tables, Ombachi Okira making sure they did just that with a try, converted by Edwin Okwema to give Eld the lead for the first time in the game at 111-12. They never looked back from this point, going for the jugular to score again through Mike Okima and Lameck Sigei with conversions from Max Ekesa and Wellington Kiptoo to complete a second half rally and bring the final score to 26-11. With details of promotion still scanty, this win will probably see Eldoret promoted to the top flight next season.
Before we could settle matters in the big final, KCB took on Mwamba for 3rd place. This match pitted two of my favourite upcoming fly halves in Kevin Atandi of Mwaba and Bonab Were of KCB, the two who are in their début season. It also brought together two of the best inside centres currently in Vincent Jumba of Mwamba and Brian Omondi of KCB.
 |
| Atandi in full flight, in the background is Were. (Photo Courtesy of Kulabu) |
It was the Lions that settled in faster and took the early lead through winger Darwin Mukidza with Were converting to make it 7-0, Atandi would reduce his side’s deficit to 4 from his boot to make it 7-3. Curtis Lilako crossed the line in style after selling a dummy then barging over three Mwamba defenders to ground the ball, Were making it 14-3 from the conversion. Kulabu would however not lie down, a Philip Ikambili try and another Atandi penalty saw the score board read 14-11 at the break.
The second half saw the teams even out, the match was reduced to a penalties affair, Were sinking in compared to Atandi’s one to bring the scores to 20-17 before he was substituted. The match would end with the scores reading 20-17 meaning KCB would end the league season in third.
With all else done, it was time for the big one, the sun had set and the Kasarani floodlights had taken over the lighting responsibilities as the teams lined up for the match.
Both sides had stuck with the 15 that did the job in the semi finals, with the only notable change being Mike Wanjala starting for the Leos at 11 with Oscar Ouma starting from the bench for Nakuru.
It was poised to be a close contested final with most terming it as too close to call. The Strathmore Leos were expected to match the Menengai Oil Nakuru RFC pound for pound.
When the match did kick off, Strathmore were first on the score board through a Marvin Sumba penalty to go 3-0 up. It was expected that the Leos would look to frustrate the Wanyore at the set pieces especially the rucks which have been a corner stone of their play. Nakuru would quickly get back to level terms through a Martin Muita penalty. From this point onward it was all Nakuru, with the Leos being starved of the ball and the Wanyore keeping their set pieces tidy enough to keep away any penalties. Godfrey Mbea went over the line to give the Wanyore the lead at 8-3, two penalties from Martin Muita sandwiched Phillip Owuor’s try after beautiful work from the Nakuru backs to give them a 19-3 lead into the break.
Ken Andola came in at 10 for the Leos with Strath probably looking to play more of a territorial game. This however changed little in the general direction of the game as the relentless and rampant Nakuru hogged the ball and dominated their opponents across the field, Lawi Buyachi stretching their lead to 26-3 after Muita’s conversion. Strathmore were reduced to scattered moments of brilliance from the likes of Peter Ocholla, Tony Onyango and Mike Wanjala, all these however counted for nothing. Nakuru did not lift the foot off the accelerator for one moment, as Eric Situma threw in Oscar Ouma for Lawi Buyachi. A Martin Muita penalty made it 29-3 before Calvin Otieno crossed over the line of the now bewildered Leos to make it 34-3, Muita would have the last score of the game from another penalty to make it 37-3.
 |
The Menengai Oil Nakuru RFC become the first side outside Nairobi to lift the Kenya Cup and depending on what side of history you are on, they win the Kenya Cup for the first time in their history, previously they had won the Loftus Cup in 1952.
The Kenya cup Champions 2012/13 walked away with a cash prize of 28 thousand Kenya shillings from the fans. This initiative started on Twitter earlier in the year by Tony Onyago alia Jah Juok saw fans led by the likes of Kenya Harlequins chairman Edward Kinyany, Mwamba Chairman Alvas Onguru all donate towards the kitty. Others included David Were, former Impala coach Bill Githinji, Eric Madegwa, Victor Ngure, Eunice Olembo among a host of other fans…A big Thank you to you all.
 |
| ALL HAIL THE KENYA CUP CHAMPIONS 2012-13 |
Nakuru’s show of dominance in the final should send shock waves around the league, after two seasons they are finally at the summit and they don’t look like moving house any time soon. For Strathmore they can take lessons from this Nakuru side, last season Nakuru were so close to glory.
With the league season now done with, we move on to my favourite part of the season, knock out rugby as the Enterprise and Mwamba Cups kick off on March 2nd. This season sees the Mwamba Cup divided into two divisions with the top division consisting of the 12 E.S.S sides and 4 semi finalists from the Nationwide. Division II features 8 sides from Western and 8 from the Nairobi and Coast regions.
The Enterprise Cup sees 12 teams take part, with the pre-quarter finals played out next weekend, Nakuru, Strathmore, KCB and Mwamba are already in the quarter finals owing to their performances in the Kenya Cup.
Finally I’d like to present to you my dream 22 squad from the Kenya Cup. These 22 players from across the clubs have consistently put in great performances for their sides, you might not agree with it, feel free to share yours in the comments section:
1.Curtis Lilako (KCB) 2.Salaton Muturi (Mwamba) 3.Derrick Wamalwa (Nondies) 4.Dan Sikuta (Mwamba) 5.Ronnie Mwenesi (Nondies) 6.Max Adaka (KCB) 7.Tony Owour (Strath) 8.Lawi Buyachi (Nakuru) 9.Collins Kimani (Nondies) 10.Nato Simiyu (Quins) 11.Tony Onyango (Strathmore) 12.Brian Omindi (KCB) 13. Patrice Agunda (Quins) 14. Darwin Mukidza (KCB) 15. Peter Ocholla (Strathmore)
16.Moses Amusala (KCB) 17. Sammy Warui (Nakuru) 18. Edwin Makori (Nakuru) 19. Adrian Opondo (Strathmore) 20. Lyle Asiligwa (Quins) 21. Martin Muita (Nakuru) 22. Vincent Jumba (Mwamba) 23. Mike Agevi (Mwamba)
Not bad eh? Though I think I’d probably suffer a bit in the line outs, I only have one true jumper in the first 8 the other in Adrian Opondo is on the bench.
With that ladies and gentlemen do have a great week ahead aaannnndddddd……
KWISHA ….Nimeruka Nje!!!
