KCB and Nakuru cemented their places at the top of the Kenya Cup standings after contrasting wins at the weekend. Nakuru finally got over their jinx at the RFUEA with a hard fought 27-23 win over Quins, with KCB making easy work of Strathmore at the Lion’s den beating the Leos 29-0.
Those wins mean Nakuru stay top with 49 points, six ahead of second placed KCB, Strathmore and Quins remain in 3rd and 4th respectively on 37 and 33 points.
Homeboyz kept their playoff hopes alive with a 36-5 win at Blak Blad, the Djs are now on 31 points narrowing the gap between them and Quins to only 2 points. Mwamba jumped into 7th spot on 28 points, after beating Mombasa 105-5 in the mid-morning kick off.
Nondies and Impala were beneficiaries of the 24-0 walk over result against Eldoret and Kisumu respectively. Nondies stay in 6th on 30 points, with Impala moving up one slot into 9th with 18 points.
Western Bulls were 45-24 winners against Machine at the Kakamega High school, where both sides earned bonus points. The Bulls are in eighth, on 27 points, Machine remain 12th on 13 points. Machine became only the third side after Nakuru and Quins to put more than four tries past the Bulls at home.
At the RFUEA, Quins were quicker off the blocks, two Eden penalties either side of Martin’s kick giving the hosts a 6-3 lead. An unconverted Nakuru try saw them take the lead briefly at 8-6. Shortly after Nakuru’s Okombe saw yellow, Dennis Muhanji making sure that the numbers advantage counted with a try to hand his side the lead at 11-8 into the break.
The second half saw Quins start strongly with Sidney Ashioya going over, to stretch that lead to 10 points after a successful conversion by Eden. Nakuru would reply to narrow that deficit to five points through an unconverted try, with the score board reading 18-13.
Max Theuri restored the 10 point gap soon after, to cap Quins ascendancy in the game. At this point it looked like that Achilies heel had come to bite Nakuru again. But it was not to be as Nakuru dug deep to score two unanswered tries and snatch the win at the death, final score 27-23.
At the Lion’s den it was a more straight forward route to victory for the Lions, as they turned up the style to dismiss the Leos.
KCB finally put their backs to good use in a match where most expected them to keep it mainly at the forwards. Two quick tries by Jacob Ojee and the impressive Essau Otieno gave the hosts a 12-0 lead in the opening fifteen minutes. The bankers were firing on all cylinders, with the forwards starving the opposition of any possession.
The Leos looked out of sorts, with any attempts to get back into the game being thwarted by the Lions. Jacob Ojee would quickly get his brace, rounding off a great move at the backs to hand his side a 17-0 lead at the break.
The first half saw KCB strike the perfect balance between the forwards and backs in attack. The midfield pairing of Ken ‘wrecking ball’ Moseti and Fabian Olando was as devastating in attack, as they were in defence. Essau Otieno starting in only his second Kenya Cup game pulling the strings at fly half with the back three trio of Darwin Mukidza, Jacob Ojee and Edwin Salamba completing the moves with great accuracy.
The second half was more of the same, with Strathmore enjoying the lion’s share of possession early on, KCB quick to shut them down. Even when they were down to 14 men after Peter Mutai was sent to the bin, KCB defended resolutely. Second half substitute Dennis Mwanja handed his side the bonus point try, at 22-0. The Lions never put the foot off the gas pedal with the substitutes off the bench keeping the momentum going.
Brian Omondi who came in for Olando broke the Leo’s defence to sprint 60 meters before being halted just short of the line. Oliver Mang’eni was however not to be denied minutes later as he capped a great performance to stretch that lead to 29-0 at the final whistle.
It was a great improvement from last weekend by the Lions, the return of Max Adaka and Brian Sagara in the forwards was clearly felt, as the engine room ran flawlessly over the 80 minutes. Essau Otieno though was head above shoulders the biggest and most welcome change to the side, putting in a man of the match performance.
Up next the top two sides will clash at the NAC, in what promises to be a battle of epic proportions. It looks all but sealed at the bottom of the table with Eldoret and Kisumu lined up for the chop.
Collated Results:
Mwamba 105-5 Mombasa
KCB 29-0 Strathmore
Quins 23-27 Nakuru
Nondies 24-0 Eldoret
Impala 24-0 Kisumu
W.Bulls 45-24 Machine
Homeboyz 36-5 Blak Blad
KWISHA…..Nimeruka Nje!
