It’s been two game days of high scores in the Bamburi Rugby Super Series or Shamba la Wanyama as I like to call it. Going into day 3, 3 sides have already secured their passage into the semi finals, they are the Ballore Nyumbu, the UAP Papa from Pool A and the Rwenzori from Pool B.
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| Action from Match day 2 between Papa and Victoria (Photo – BRSS) |
With only the one spot up for grabs, all eyes will be on the Pool B fixtures, with Kengewa and the Top Fry Ndovu with a realistic chance of progressing to next weekend’s semi finals.
Unlike the opening two weekends where matches took place in up to 3 locations, action on day 3 will see two matches played in Nairobi’s RFUEA and Kampala’s Kyadondo Rugby Club.
Victoria vs Kiboko, Kyadondo (2pm)
The first match at the Kyadondo Rugby Club will see two sides that have already bowed out of the tournament battle for pride. This will be the first home match for the Victoria, having played at the RFUEA for the last two weekends. Those two matches ended in 15-70 and 20-30 losses to the Nyumbu and the Papa respectively. Despite the losses, the Victoria have been a great side as far as play in the forwards goes, their set pieces were cause of constant trouble for their opposition.
The Kiboko put a brave fight against the Nyumbu in Mumias on game day 2 though eventually going down 5-30. This was a notable improvement from the 53-0 drubbing they received at the hands of the Papa at the RFUEA. The Kiboko will look to upset their hosts and end their campaign on a high.
Rwenzori vs Ndovu, Kyadondo (4pm)
The second match in Kampala will see the Rwenzori host the Top Fry Ndovu, with qualification already sealed for the Rwenzori all the pressure will be on the Ndovu.
The Ndovu lie second in Pool B on 7 points and an aggregate point tally of 64, after 67-3 and 18-18 results against the Mamba and Kengewa respectively. Only a win here will guarantee their passage into the semis, although a draw would also do depending on results in Nairobi. A loss here and a win for the Kengewa will mean that the two sides will be separated by aggregate score.
The Ndovu will have an advantage of sorts as they will already have known the result from the Kengewa match before taking on Rwenzori.
Rwenzori will be playing to seal top spot, as a defeat here will see them lose out on a home semi final.
Kengewa vs Mamba, RFUEA (2pm)
That 18 all result against the Ndovu gave the Kengewa a lease of life after going down 14-25 in Kampala on the opening day of the tournament. The students are on 2 points and on -9 aggregate points. They will have to win here, and win big then hope the Rwenzori not only beat the Ndovu but restrict them to a small score.
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| Kengewa in action against the Ndovu (Photo – BRSS) |
Kengewa’s task looks very much achievable considering their opponents have let in a total of 124 points this far, scoring only 6.
UAP Papa vs Ballore Nyumbu, RFUEA (4pm)
This match for me is the final before the final, with the two sides safely into the semi finals the battle will be for top spot and the home semi final it comes with.
The Nyumbu currently hold top spot in Pool A, collecting a maximum 10 points, the Papa are a point adrift after failing to pick up a bonus point against the Victoria.
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| Papa in action against Victoria (Photo BRSS) |
When sides are this evenly matched, the burden of victory is usually placed on the half back pairing and their decisions at critical points in the match. The match will probably witness a see saw affair with the sides trading moments of dominance. It will be up to the half backs to make the most of the periods that their side will be on the front foot.
I struggle to remember another finely poised match as this one is, it promises to be a match of fine margins with very little to choose between the two. A moment of individual brilliance might be the difference between the two sides and with so much talent on both sides of the 50 meter line, it is bound to be an explosive encounter.
The predictions:
Victoria over Kiboko by more than 15
Rwenzori over Ndovu by less than 10
Kengewa over Mamba by more than 30
Nyumbu over Papa by less than 5
With that ladies and gentlemen, do enjoy your weekend aaannnndddddd……
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!!
