Only One Play Off Spot Up For Grabs In the ESS

With four match days to go, the battle for the playoff spots in the Eric Shirley Shield is all but wrapped up. The top three sides are yet to lose a match and have surely done enough to secure berths in the semi-finals, with the only thing set to change being the order in which they finish.

The Catulus of Strathmore lead the log on a perfect 45 having scored a winning bonus in all of their 9 matches. They are closely followed by the Cubs of KCB and Nakuru II on 44 points, the cubs claiming second spot on their superior points tally.

Mwamba II currently hold the last playoff spot on 30 points and will be battling for it against Nondies II, Quins II nad Western Bulls II who are on 25,24 and 23 points respectively.

Match day 10 sees the top two clash with third placed Nakuru II taking on defending champions Quins II. Mwamba II will probably benefit from a walk over result against 11^th placed Mombasa II who rarely travel for away matches. Nondies II will also have the same luck as they are set to host second from last side Eldoret II at the Jamuhuri grounds.

Impala II might also join in this week’s walk over beneficiaries’ band wagon as they host bottom side Kisumu II. The boks are in 9^th on 15 points a far cry from last season’s 3^rd place finish, all they have to play for is pride.

10^th placed Homeboyz II host Blak Blad II who are in eighth, the two sides are separated by five points, the Homeboyz will be looking to make some valuable ground on Blad as the season draws to a close for the two.

Western Bulls II who are still in with a shout at the play offs host Mean Machine in 12^th. The hosts will have to put up a big result here to keep their hopes alive, seeing as most of the other sides in the playoff bracket are all set for five pointers.

The top two matches as mentioned earlier will see third place Nakuru II travel to the defending champions Arturos of Quins. Capitulations rarely come bigger than in the case of the Arturos, who were the ‘invincibles’ of the ESS, going 2 years without losing a single league match. Fast forward to present day and the Arturos have four times in the space of 3 months.

Their chances of defending the title they won last season looking slimmer by the day, and hopes of qualifying for the play offs hanging by a silk string. They face Nakuru II a side the commandingly beat 42-18 last year, a repeat of the same looking like a pipe dream. Nakuru II are yet to lose a match and boast of the tightest defence in the division having only let in 27 points in 9 matches, an average of 3 points a match.

Quins II on their part have so far shipped in 169 points more than they did over the last two season, combined. They come into this match on the back of a 22-18 loss to the Catulus and will know another loss here will surely see that silk string that is holding their playoff hopes, snap. Nakuru II will probably be out for revenge and looking to get back to the top of the standings with the top two sides clashing.

Leaders Catulus make the short trip to the super highway to face the second placed Cubs of KCB. The two sides have been in fine form so far, with the Catulus scoring a perfect 45 from 9 matches, the cubs pack the meanest attack having scored 333 points in the 9 matches played, and hold an aggregate score of 299.

This one is bound to be a cracker as recent encounters between the two have shown, the last time the two met at the same venue the hosts were 19-3 winners. This time round with top spot up for grabs and the added incentive of bringing either impressive runs to a halt, it is going to be one of those matches that look like a Kenya Cup fixture. Also with the depth the two sides have the quality of play is definitely poised to be up there.