Kenya cup action resumes after a weekend’s hiatus with some great matches lined up in match day 11.
During that break, Quins all but ended the race for the play off spots with a 22-10 win over Mwamba at the RFUEA. That win took the quartered shirts to third spot on 38 points and now sees Strathmore run the risk of not making the play offs that have apparently been pushed to a later date in May.
The Leos are on 37 points in fourth and with Mwamba and Nakuru on their fixtures, Homeboyz on 31 points will be feeling hopeful, but will need Strathmore to lose both of those games if they are to pip them to the semis.
The other end of the league is wrapped up with Kisumu and Eldoret set to face the axe.
Mombasa vs Western Bulls, 4pm – MSC
6th placed Western Bulls travel to Mombasa to face 12th placed Mombasa at the MSC. It could be said that the season is done and dusted with the Bulls now out of the race for the play off spots and Mombasa already having done enough to avoid the chop.
It will however be an interesting match up with the sides looking for better postings at the end of the season.
Machine vs Impala, 4pm – UoN Grounds
10th placed Mean machine host 9th placed Impala at the UoN grounds, the two sides have had a disappointing season and will be looking for a strong finish. One point separates the two sides on the log, with Impala on 18 points thus expect a tight battle here. The last time these two met in the league, Impala were 21-5 winners.
Kisumu vs Homeboyz, 4pm – Kisumu Poly
A home fixture for the bottom side means we wont be seeing a walk over from Kisumu as they host 5th place Homeboyz.
Kisumu have been on a self destruct mission this season and will probably need the time in the Nation wide to get their house in order. This weekend they face play off hopefuls Homeboyz with the odds heavily stacked against them. With the little pride left to play for.
Homeboyz will be looking to rack in the points here as they look to make the most out of any slip ups from the teams above. The last time these two met in the league, the djs were 36-27 winners.
Blakblad vs Nondies, 4pm – KU
Blad who lie in 10th on 15 points host 8th placed Nondies who are 10 points ahead of their opponents this weekend. Nondies had their fixture against Eldoret postponed and thus have only played 9 matches.
Nondies who are still in with a mathematical chance to make it to the playoffs will have to do their bit here by getting a maximum 5 points here to keep those hopes alive. The last time these two met in the league, Nondies were 36-8 winners.
Eldoret vs Quins, 4pm – Eldoret Sports Club
Third placed Quins will look to cement their place in the play-offs when they travel to face second from bottom side Eldoret at the Eldoret Sports Club.
A 5 pointer here will see the quartered shirts ease off any pressure from the chasing pack. For Eldoret it will be another chance to learn even though they are definitely going down at the end of this campaign.
Strathmore vs Mwamba – 4pm, Madaraka.
Fourth placed Strathmore will be hosting seventh placed Mwamba at their Madaraka Sports complex.
Strathmore who had a strong start to the campaign where they held on to second spot for long periods, have since seen slipped off and find themselves in danger of missing out on the play offs.
The Leos face a Mwamba side that saw their hopes of a play off spot fizzle out at the hands of Quins. Both sides will be looking to get back to winning ways as the Leos come into this one off a 29-0 loss to KCB.
This fixture will be a replay of one of last season’s semi finals where Strathmore emerged 18-15 winners to proceed to the final. The Leos will be looking for a bigger result here seeing as the chasing pack all have easier fixtures at the weekend.
A clash between these two is always an exciting affair with both sides preferring to play off their backs.
Nakuru vs KCB, 4pm – NAC
The clash of the weekend will see league leaders Top Fry Nakuru hosting second placed KCB at the Suguta valley.
The bankers have sour memories of this grounds when it comes to fifteens rugby, last season they visited the NAC thrice, twice in the league and once in the Enterprise cup, losing on all occasions.
The Lions will be looking to exorcise the ghosts of Suguta valley this weekend and become the first side to beat the defending champions at home in close to two years.
It will be no easy task for the Lions as they come up against a Nakuru side that has been flawless this season. Their run anchored on a forward line that has been able to turn over their opponents week in week out.
It will be a tough test for both sides, indeed the toughest so far and it will probably not get any tougher this season for the two. What Nakuru have lacked at the backs, they have more than made up for in the forwards.
The likes of Martin Owilla, Sammy Warui, Mike Okombe, Lawi Buyachi, Edwin Makori and Philip Kwame being the engine room of the side. They will come up against a formidable opposing set with Oliver Mangeni, Francis Mwita, Brian Sagara, Max Adaka, Ploycap Luaki and Ian Indimuli.
A department that has seen great improvement in the lions side is the backs, with Ken ‘wrecking ball’ Moseti and Fabian ‘Rango’ Olando forming a formidable partnership in the mid field. They will hold the upper hand here and will be looking to make this advantage count.
If picked, the battle between the diminutive fly halves in Martin Mwita and Elphas Otieno will be one to behold among other individual battles across the field.
It is going to be an explosive encounter, whichever way you look at it, with the mouth watering battles in store. The one at the front row will be another one at scrum time. If both sides do turn up then it will be an unmissable match.
To the predictions :
Western Bulls +30 over Mombasa
Impala +10 over Machine
Homeboyz +70 over Kisumu
Nondies +25 over Blad
Quins +70 over Eldoret
Strathmore +10 over Mwamba
KCB +3 over Nakuru
KWISHA….Nimeruka Nje!!!
