Four matches to go and the battle for the play off spots in the top flight can only get hotter with the top eight sides all with a chance of making the four slots. With the exception of runaway leaders Nakuru , who sit on 44 points, the others still have work to do to cement their places.
KCB are in second with 38 points, closely followed by Strathmore on 37 points, Quins in the last playoff spot with 32 points with a game in hand on the teams above. Homeboyz, Nondies, Western Bulls and Mwamba round off the list of possibles on 26,25, 23 and 22 points respectively.
The relegation battle looks to be all wrapped up with Kisumu and Eldoret up for the axe, Kisumu on an appalling -6 points after failing to honour 3 matches and Eldoret on 3 points. Machine in 12th, with a similar number of points seem to have avoided the chopping board.
Match Day 10 could be seen as a dress rehearsal of sorts for the play offs with the top four sides clashing. Leaders Nakuru travel to the RFUEA to face fourth placed Quins, with 3rd placed Strathmore visiting the Lion’s den to battle it out with second placed KCB.
Mwamba vs Mombasa, 4pm – UON
Other fixtures see 11th placed Mombasa travel to the capital to face Mwamba in eighth. Kulabu who still harbour hopes of a playoff spot will be looking for a big result here to pick up valuable points towards that cause. The black shirts with a game in hand over the rest of the chasing pack will be out to make the most of these ‘easier’ matches before taking on Quins.
Both sides come into this one off losses, Mwamba narrow 22-24 losers to KCB at the same venue, Mombasa going down 8-25 at home to Machine.
Nondies vs Eldoret, 4pm – Jamhuri Park
Sixth placed Nondies will be hosting second from last side Eldoret in a match that the red lions will be hot favourites. Eldoret have been through a tough first season, unfortunately they don’t look like getting a second run immediately and will be out to keep learning in this one.
Nondies will be out for a big sore here to make up ground on the leading pack that are definitely set to drop points this weekend.
Impala vs Kisumu, 4pm – Impala Club
10th placed Impala…Saracens, host bottom side Kisumu at the Impala Club. The Ngong road side became the first African side to join the expansive Saracens family and will be looking to kick off the partnership in style. Those plans might however be thrown to the curve, with the hosts probably playing a game of touch rugby at 4pm, looking at Kisumu’s recent away record.
Impala seem to be sinking further with every season of ‘rebuilding’ 3 wins in 9 their worst return in recent times. Let’s hope the Saracens deal turns things around in one of Kenya’s grand clubs.
Western Bulls vs Machine, 4pm – Kakamega High
Western Bulls in 7th will host 12th placed Mean Machine at the Kakamega High School. The Bulls have been really impressive this season making their Kakamega backyard a fort of sorts stretching the best of sides at the grounds. The Echulusi might still be in with a chance at the play offs but that remains a long shot even with that, the side has greatly improved from last season and at this rate they look set for a proper run in next season.
Machine on their part have been struggling most of this season, but again have done just enough to survive the chop. They come into this one off a morale boosting 25-8 win at the coast and will be fancying their chances in this one as they look to keep their ascend up the log going.
Echulusi come into this one off a 51-3 win over bottom side Kisumu. The last time these two met, the Bulls were 16-11 winners at the same venue.
Homeboyz vs Blak blad, 4pm – Strathmore Madaraka
Sixth placed Homeboyz are enjoying their best run in the Kenya Cup to date and have a chance getting closer to the top four when they host 9th placed Blak Blad at the Madaraka grounds.
The Djs have so far won five of their 9 matches and looking at their next four fixtures you cannot write them off. After that big loss to Nakuru, they picked themselves up to blank Eldoret 84-6 and get back into the fight. With Quins and Mwamba having a game in hand, the Djs must make the most of their remaining fixtures starting with the visit of Blad.
Blad in 9th have so far had a good run, managing to steer away from the drop zone and put in some great performances. They will no push overs here, coming into this one off a narrow 22-14 defeat to Impala. The last time these two met Homeboyz were 57-0 winners.
Quins vs Nakuru, 4pm – RFUEA
The Immediate former champions Quins play host to the defending champions and current league leaders, Nakuru at the RFUEA grounds.
The last three encounters between these two have all had the same result, a Quins win. If however there is a year for Nakuru to change that, it is this one. The hosts have so far managed to cunningly manage their fixtures, which has seen them in control of fourth spot on 32 points with a game in hand.
Six wins from eight and eight bonus points in the bag means that a spot in the play offs is theirs to throw away. This will perhaps be their toughest test so far, a win here will surely send a message to the rest of the title hopefuls. Quins have always had a way of handling Nakuru, though they might not be at their best this season they cannot be written off.
Nakuru’s script has read like a perfect story so far, 9 wins out of 9, boasting of the best attack and defence in the league. Scoring an average of 54.2 points while conceding a paltry 5.8 per match, they were denied a winning bonus for the first time last weekend against Nondies winning 19-8.
As mentioned earlier the RFUEA has been Nakuru’s Achilles heel over the past few seasons, they suffered their only defeat last season here, a 31-13 beating. This side led by a former Quin, Dominique ‘Papa’ Habimana will be looking to finally get a win here. Nakuru’s strong run has been anchored on their almost unplayable forwards, they will have to turn on the style here to get the result.
Quins might not have the meanest forwards, but have a back line to match any, they will definitely hold the upper hand here and will be hoping that their forwards stand up to the test on their end. This one will be a titanic battle with every blade of grass up for battle.
KCB vs Strathmore, 4pm – KCB Ruaraka
Second placed KCB host third placed Strathmore Leos at the Lion’s den Ruaraka, in what is set to be an explosive encounter. The two sides are separated by a single point on the log and if the last three encounters are anything to go by there will be little to separate the two on the pitch.
Strathmore have been in good form, since their shock 50-12 loss to Homeboyz at the end of last year. Since then the two grand clubs of Kenya rugby have fallen at their sword, first beating Nondies 20-17 before dispatching Quins 20-10.
The Leos will be looking to add a third giant to that list when they visit the den. In a discussion after the Nakuru vs Homeboyz match, we agreed that Nakuru were devastating as they play with 6 back rows with only the two props not as mobile as the rest.
After watching Strathmore vs Quins the same friend called me up to tell me that the Leos play with 11 guys who haven’t exactly settled on their positions and can slot in anywhere. Surprised I asked How? Well, everyone except the two props, the scrum half and fly half cover every blade of grass.
KCB have also been as impressive as their opponents, anchored by their strong forwards and a backline to match. The Lions have however been guilty of playing with the proverbial hand brake on failing on multiple cases to reach the heights that most expect. Despite this they have managed to come out on top in 8 of their 9 matches.
The green lions will have to be at their absolute best to get anything against this well-oiled Strathmore side. The battle at the forwards is set to be gruelling with the Leos packing enough in this department to challenge the hosts. The one at the backs though will be a sight by itself, the likes of Tony Onyango and Ken Andola up against Fabian Olando and Ken Moseti on the other side.
The last time these two met in the league, the match ended in a 16 all draw, the most recent encounter between the two came under the Impala Floodlights where KCB sneaked away with a 22-17 win at the death. With the chance of narrowing the gap at the top and cementing second spot this match will be a titanic battle.
Onto the predictions:
Mwamba +70 over Mombasa
Nondies +80 over Eldoret
Western Bulls +20 over Machine
Impala 24-0 over Kisumu
Homeboyz +30 over Blad
Nakuru +15 over Quins
KCB +5 over Strathmore
KWISHA…..Nimeruka Nje!!!
