In the last installation of the Kenya Cup score card we highlight the bottom four sides. Of the four, Eldoret and Mombasa were doing their debut seasons. The other two completed their second seasons in the top flight.
It is expected that Kisumu and Eldoret will be axed for the next season having finished in the bottom two slots.
11. Blak Blad RFC
Blad were placed last at the end of the 2012/13 campaign, with 0 wins to their name and only 1 point to show for from the 11 weeks. They managed to score 97 points an average of 8.8 points a match while conceding 36.3 points.
This season the Kenyatta University students managed 3 wins out of the 12 matches that were recorded. As you might remember, the match against Nondies was abandoned and according to the Blad faithful they had the four points in the bag.
The three wins translated into a win rate of 25%, scoring an average of 11.3 points a match while letting in 27.5 on average. Their point tally of 15 translated into a 1.25 average per game week, they managed to pick up 3 bonus points over the 12 games played.
A notable improvement from the side, this season they were harder to beat, only two sides managed to get over the half century mark against them, Quins and KCB. The highlight for the Thika road side must be the two week period that they beat Kisumu 48-7 then followed this up with a 7-6 derby win over Machine. On the low, that two point loss to Mombasa and the hiding at the hands of Quins and KCB.
12. Mombasa RFC
The coast based side managed to do enough to avoid the drop on their return to the top flight. Wins over Eldoret, Kisumu and Blad made sure that they held the upper hand in the relegation race. That advantage was however watered down after not honouring two fixtures which meant that they were docked four points.
The side finished on 9 points but for calculation purposes we will work with 13 points their actual tally. That tally represents an average of a log point a game week, they managed to score an average of 7.2 points a match while conceding a massive 57.8 points a match. The side picked up 1 bonus point over the 13 weeks.
A tough season for Mombasa, where they were on the receiving end of several cricket scores, but in the end they managed to secure top flight status for next season. Their highlight of the season seems to be the first home win against Eldoret and the win over Blad at the same venue. The cricket scores were the lows and they’ll need to work towards trimming these next season.
13. Eldoret RFC
Eldoret, the new kid on the block had the proverbial baptism of fire in this campaign eventually finishing within the relegation places. To their credit though, the side stood up every week despite the massive scores. With 12 matches recorded, the side managed one win, a walk over result against Kisumu, scoring 66 points from the fixtures, while conceding 685 points.
The side was docked a total of 6 points after not honouring 3 of their 13 matches, thus finished on the negative side of the number line on -1. It seems unfair to relegate a side that has shown so much fight but unfortunately that’s the cruel world we live in. Let us hope they bounce right back having known what it takes to stay afloat in the top flight.
A few highlights for the side, the one that takes the cap for me is the match against Nakuru on match day 2. Where they led the defending champions for the better part of the first half.
14. Kisumu RFC
From the promise they showed in their debut season, the Kondele boys had a campaign to forget. In 2011/12, the lake side finished in 10th having picked up 6 points, they had scored an average of 14.7 points while conceding 32 points.
The less said about this season the better really, -12 points after not honouring almost half of their fixtures. The games they did honour all ended in scores over the half century mark. They managed to score a paltry 13 points while conceding 563 in 6 matches.
It’s even sadder when you consider that all this stemmed from poor management and a big chunk of the player base left the club in the opening stages of the season. In fighting has seen the pride fade away from the side, which quickly moved from a laughing stalk to a pitiful sight.
The time in the Nationwide will do the side a world of good, if this slide is not curbed soon then the side is surely on it’s death bead.
The sides that missed the chopping board this time round will definitely be looking to do the same next season and probably put some day light between them and the drop zone.
Attention now shifts to the Enterprise Cup and the national fifteens side that is doing duty in the Vodacom Cup.
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!!
