Today on the Kenya Cup score card, we are going to look at the sides that finished in position 5 through 10, the mid table sides if you like.
5. Homeboyz RFC
The Djs completed their third season in the top flight and the growth in the side is evident for all to see. After finishing in 7th spot last season Paul Murunga’s side were play off challengers for most of this campaign eventually finishing 5th.
In the 2012/13 season, Homeboyz won 6 out of 11 fixtures which translated to a win rate of 54%. They scored a total of 30 points on the log, putting an average of 2.7 log points every week. They scored an average of 23.4 points conceding 27.8 a match. They had a return of 6 bonus points in the 11 week league.
This season the Djs accumulated 46 points over 13 weeks to finish just a point outside the playoff spots, winning 69.2% of their fixtres. The 46 points meant the side put up an average of 4.2 log points every week, they managed to jump into the positives in the aggregate column. Scoring an average of 40 points a match while conceding 17.9 against their opposition over the 13 weeks.
With a very young core of players, this Homeboyz side is set to upset the balance at the top as soon as next season. Although they had a start stop opening to the league, their back to back wins against Mwamba and Strathmore stand out as the highlights of their season.
On the flip side the spanking at Nondies and the blanking at the hands of Nakuru mark their lowest points in that campaign.
6. Mwamba RFC
After making it to the play offs last season, Kulabu made a strong start to this campaign before fading away half way through to finish in sixth.
During the 2012/13 campaign, Kulabu managed 8 wins from 11, a 72.7% win rate, gathering 40 points from those matches, an average log points tally of 3.6 per game week. They managed to put an average of 26.4 points past their opponents while conceding 14.1 points on average, picking up 6 bonus points over the 11 weeks.
This time round Kulabu racked in 37 points from 13 matches, an average of 2.85 log points a week. They managed to win 7 of the 13 matches played, a 53.8% win rate. The black shirts scored 30.2 points on average against their opponents, conceding 13.8 points per game. They had a return of 9 bonus points from the 13 weeks of play.
It was a see saw season for Kulabu, when they were good they were a true force but on their off days they were all over the place. It is these off days that came back to bite them in the end. The losses to Homeboyz, Strathmore and Quins are among the lows for them. The return of league action to their Railways club grounds stands out as the highlight of the season and of course who can forget that win over Nakuru?
7. Nondescripts RFC
Nondies have always been the perennial under achievers of the Kenya Cup, this season like the last wasn’t any different. The white shirts usually have the players to challenge for the title but how they manage not to, is beyond me.
Last season the rangers finished in sixth with a total of 31 points, putting up an average of 2.8 log points every game week, with a win rate of 54.5%. Their 272 points meant that they scored an average of 24.7 points against their opposition while conceding 17.9 points. The side picked up 7 bonus points from the 11 match league.
This season the side only had 11 matches recorded, having walked off the pitch against Blad and postponing the fixture against Eldoret. This campaign held a lot of promise for the white shirts, four wins in the opening four matches saw them stay within the play off spots before it started going south.
They finished the season on 35 points from 11 matches, scoring an average of 3.2 log points a week, winning 7 of the 11 translating into a 63.7% win rate. They put 335 points past their opposition, an average of 30.45 a match, while conceding 15.4 points.
A season where the white shirts shot themselves in the leg to be honest, had they played Eldoret and put in a better show against Blad along with some other results that slipped past them, we would be having a different out come here.
The massive win against Homeboyz should do for their highlight of the season with the performance against Nakuru also worth a mention. The low has to be the derby defeat against Quins, in a match most had expected them to win.
8. Western Bulls
In their second season, the Echulusi have made a name for themselves so far giving the big boys a real run for their money. Last season they finished in 9th, managing 5 wins in 11, a win rate of 45.5% giving them a total of 22 points, an average of 2 log points a week. The bulls managed to score an average of 13.5 points a match while conceding 28.9 points. They managed to pick up 2 bonus points from the 11 weeks.
This time round the Echulusi racked in a total of 33 points from 13 rounds, an average of 2.5 points a week. They picked up 6 wins in 13, a win rate of 46.2%, scoring 28.8 points on average against their opposition while conceding 19.8 points. They picked up 9 bonus points over the 13 weeks.
Though the results didn’t go their way, the performances especially at home offer a lot of hope going into the coming seasons. Alongside the Homeboyz they look set to upset the balance at the top sooner rather than later.
The Echulusi’s highlights include the win over Mwamba and the performances against KCB and Strathmore. The lows will be the loss at Impala a side they had beaten last season and perhaps the opening day loss to Nondies.
9. Resolution Health Impala Saracens
Impala seem to be on a slow but steady slope into oblivion, for the past three seasons we have heard the same rebuilding story, but construction seems to be slow for the Ngong road side.
Last season they seem to have hit rock bottom, finishing in 8th on 24 points from 11, an average of 2.2 log points a game week. During that campaign, they won only 4 of their fixtures posting a 36.4% win rate, scoring an average of 20.1 points a match while shipping in 21.3 points. At the end of the league phase they had gathered 6 bonus points.
This time round the red shirts got off to the poorest of starts, one win in seven matches saw the one time giants of Kenya rugby toying with relegation. The turn of the year however brought good tidings with it, winning the 6 remaining fixtures to save face and finish in 9th.
The side managed 7 wins in total a win rate of 53.8%, racking in 32 points an average of 2.5 log points a week. The red shirts managed to score an average of 25.5 points against their opposition while conceding 16.3 points on the other end. They managed to gather 4 bonus points over the 13 weeks.
The partnership with the Saracens seems to overshadow all this season, let’s hope it comes with the return to glory for Impala. On the pitch though, their highlight has to be the 18-0 win over KCB, their only one in the 2013 leg of the league. Too many lows to pick from really, but the losses to Nondies and Strathmore stand out.
10. Mean Machine RFC
It was always going to be a tough season for the Eschuma, with the number of players they lost at the end of last season. Having endured a tough run in the 2012/13 campaign this one was projected to be even harder.
In 2012/13, the side amassed a total of 13 points, picking up an average of 1.2 points a game week. They managed 2 wins in 11, translating into an 18.2% win rate. They managed to score an average of 12.1 points against their opposition, conceding 24.8 on average. The Eschuma had a return of 3 bonus points over the 11 game weeks.
In the just concluded season, Machine sat on 18 points, picking up an average of 1.4 points a game week. They won 3 of their 13 fixtures, a 23.1% win rate, scoring an average of 12 points a match while letting in 23.2 points. They had a return of 6 bonus points in the 13 weeks.
A season with more lows than highs for the University of Nairobi students, their win against Mombasa at the MSC stands out as the highlight alongside the performances against KCB and Mwamba. The season’s low has to be the narrow loss against Blad and the spanking they received against 13 Strathmore players.
On a lighter note I always say Machine would be challenging for the Kenya Cup if their matches were to be played under flood lights. I mean look at their floodies record over the years..
It is back to the drawing board for these five sides as they plot for next season’s league and how to break into the play off places, for the sides that finished in the upper half. For the bottom half sides they will probably look to avoid the relegation axe during the next campaign.
Catch the final installation of the Kenya Cup score card featuring the bottom four sides later…
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!
