Top Fry Nakuru RFC blew past a KCB with a 26-10 result at the NAC to stretch their lead at the top of the Kenya Cup standings to 11 points. Other matches saw Quins leap frog KCB into second spot with a 122-0 result against Eldoret.
The Leos remained fourth after beating Mwamba 29-0 with the Homeboyz still in the chase for a play off spot after recording the biggest score of the season this far a 130-0 demolition of Kisumu RFC.
Western Bulls kept hold of sixth spot with a 48-0 win against Mombasa at the MSC. Nondies stay in seventh even after walking out just before the final whistle in their weekend fixture against Blad in protest of what they termed as poor officiating. Nondies walked out after the referee awarded Blad a penalty in the dying minutes of the match with the score board reading Nondies 8-6 Blad.
It has to be mentioned here that the official match referee did not show up thus the sides settled for a player from one of the sides to take up the whistle. How this one will be settled is yet to be known, but something looks to be brewing between the refs body and the union.
In another match, the Resolution Health Impala Saracens beat Mean Machine 24-19 at the UoN grounds.
At the NAC, a largely depleted KCB side was subjected to their fourth defeat at the NAC in two years. The Lion’s line up missed the services of Moses Amusala, Max Adaka, Anthony Ogot, Brian Omondi and Fabian Olando. With Curtis Lilako only getting a place on the bench. The hosts were also missing a few of their starters with Lawi Buyachi the most notable absentee.
The opening minutes saw the two sides probing each other with KCB doing well to defend their lines after being pinned to their half through most of the early exchanges.
The Nakuru forwards were having a field day against their opposite numbers in the opening exchanges a theme that would be upheld through out the eighty minutes. Jiles Littlewood almost single handedly winning the scrum battle for his side at loose head with some street wise scrummaging against the green John Ahenda on the opposite side.
The KCB back three was holding well to hold fort, Jacob Ojee, Darwin Mukidza and Allan Omuka making some last ditch tackles. The midfield duo of Ken Moseti and Michael Omondi standing up to the Nakuru onslaught with the their lose forwards attacking this channel relentlessly.
It was just a matter of time before Nakuru broke the deadlock, Calvin Otieno going over for the hosts at the corner to give his side a 5-0 lead. You felt that it was a first of many judging from the play so far. Nakuru’s 6 lose forwards were popping all over, attacking the KCB back line and dominating every set piece.
Mike Okombe would stretch that lead to 12-0 just before the break, it would have been more with KCB lucky to go into the break with that score line. That combination of Okombe, Kwame, Owilla, Warui and Makori was devastating with Gibson Weru and Martin Muita pulling the strings at half back.
The KCB backs saw very little of the ball and when it came it was of poor quality owing to their forwards’ pounding at the set piece. There was virtually no difference between a KCB put in and a Nakuru one at the scrum. The backs were the shinning light for the lions in the first half and were keeping the side in the game.
The second half was more of the same with the Nakuru forwards running the show, Phillip Kwame going over to make it 19-0 in the opening exchanges. They had the bonus point in the bag before the 60th minute to close this match as a contest. KCB threw in Curtis Lilako Francis Mwita and Steve Wakaya to stabilise the scrum which they helped do to some extent.
Mwita and Lilako would go over for the bakers to put a respectable 26-10 score at the final whistle. The KCB forwards had been through one of their longest 80 minutes in recent history, they had been taken to school. They will however take consolation in the fact that the score was that close at the end and perhaps with their seasoned players they would have made a contest of this.
With that win Nakuru confirmed their status as the hot favourites to retain the league title but with the play offs slated for May, anything can happen. KCB run the risk of losing out on a home semi final with Quins having to play Blad and Kisumu with the bankers facing Eldoret and Blad.
The battle between Homeboyz and Strathmore for the last play off spot looks like it’s been settled with the Leos holding a 6 point advantage. They play Mombasa next then travel to Nakuru, the Djs have a tricky pair of fixtures in Machine and Western Bulls.
The postponement of the play offs will take the momentum off the sides, with the four sides on an even platform come May.
It would have been better if the league would have carried on with the available players. Especially looking at the load on the top players seeing as they will also be expected to feature in the Elgon Cup, Super Series and the CAR Cup after this. It was always going to be a special season whichever way we chose to go.
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!