After a ten week break, the not so small issue of picking out the 2013/14 Kenya Cup and ESS champions takes centre stage for the next two weekends.
Top Fry Nakuru RFC, Lunch Bar Quins, KCB and Strathmore will battle it out in the semi finals slated for this weekend. Of the four, three were here last year, with one missing out by a whisker.
Last year Nakuru met KCB at the Suguta valley, going on to pick their first Kenya Cup title. Strathmore RFC beat Mwamba 18-15 in the other semifinal, going on to lose in the final. Mwamba had made it to the semi finals at the expense of Quins who finished in fifth, five points behind the black shirts.
With the ten week break between the league and play off phases, you can as well throw out league form as a factor to consider when trying to predict how the semi finals will play out. During those ten weeks, top players from the four have played in the Vodacom Cup, the rest have been through an Enterprise Cup and the first few rounds of the Super series and Chairman’s cup.
While KCB and Nakuru have kept their form up there, Strathmore have faltered a bit with the lack of players hitting Quins hard.
Nakuru vs Strathmore (NAC grounds, K.O – 4:00 PM)
The first semi final at the dreaded Suguta valley will be a replay of last year’s final, with the defending champions Nakuru RFC taking on Strathmore.
In that final, Nakuru romped to a 37-3 win at the then Moi Sports Centre Kasarani Stadium. The hosts who welcome back lock Mike Okombe, Martin Owilla and Sammy Warui from the Tusker Simba XVs, with sevens mainstay Oscar Ouma also a possibility in the line up.
The Wanyore have been in blistering form since last year, they are one game away from taking their unbeaten home run to two seasons. They finished top of the league with 59 points, scoring an average of 45 points a match while letting in a meagre 10 points on average.
They have also been on the right side of this fixture in the last three encounters, beating the Leos 15-10, 37-3 and 24-11 in their latest meeting during the league phase. The first result was played out at the Madaraka Sports Complex, the second, last season’s Kenya Cup final , the last played at the NAC.
The hosts will be upbeat going into this fourth meeting over the last two years and indeed will be favourites to proceed to the finals.
The Leos have been keeping a low profile since the Kenya Cup league phase, mainly due to their early elimination in the Enterprise Cup by Nondies. Since then they have been on a rigorous training program, with fans getting a glimpse of the side during the great rift ten a side.
Last year’s runners up welcome back head coach Mitch Ocholla alongside Ken Andola, Brian Nyikuli, Cyrprian Kuto and Tony Onyango. With the possibility of assistant coach Tito Oduk turning up for the side.
Strathmore blew hot and cold over the league phase eventually holding on to finish in fourth. They managed to score a little over 41 points on average while conceding 12.9 points.
If there is a side that loves playing in Nakuru then it is the Leos, unfortunately that good luck only seems to show in the shorter versions. This year they knocked out the Wanyore in the semi finals of the great rift ten a side. Though there’s little you can pick out from a tens game that will translate in the 15s, you feel the Leos will be looking to that result and thinking, why not?
It is no secret how the Wanyors will play, and it will be up to the Leos to counter them. Little is said of the Wanyore back line, but they have been doing their business quite effectively under the shadows of their dominating forwards. The likes of Martin Muita, Kelvin Omiyo and Calvin Otieno have been devastating from the platform that is set up for them.
The likes of Brian Nyikuli, Adrian Opondo, Charles Omondi, Malik Ndemi and Tito Oduk will have to work over time to keep tabs on the rampant Nakuru forwards. You feel that Andola’s boot will be vital in this encounter as the Leos will be looking to play in the right areas of the park.
Kenya Harlequins vs KCB (RFUEA, K.O 4:00 PM)
The other semi final will be the clash between 2011/12 champions Quins and the 2007 winners KCB. These two have had a long going rivalry ever since KCB started poking at the status quo in the mid and late 90’s.
The immediate former champions will be looking to end their one year hiatus and claim back the Kenya Cup. Before being dethroned by Nakuru last season the quartered shirts were three peat champions from 2010.
In that 2010 win, they came back from a 21-3 deficit at half time to beat KCB 26-21in the final at the RFUEA. To date, it remains one of the most memorable encounters, not only between the two, but in Kenya rugby’s history.
These two last met in the Enterprise Cup quarter final without their international players, where KCB emerged 36-6 winners at the Lions den.
The Quin welcomes a platoon of 9 players from the Vodacom cup, led by captain Wilson Kopondo, Tony Mutai, Edward Oseko, Lyle Asiligwa, Edwin Achayo, Isaac Adimo, Eden Agero, Nick Baraza and Dennis Muhanji.
The quartered shirts have had the upper hand in this fixture since that final in 2010, losing for the first time to KCB in the league in a 30-28 thriller at the Lion’s den. Before this the quartered shirts had enjoyed an almost unchallenged edge over the Lions, it didn’t matter where these two met.
Quins were very cunning during the league phase, realising early that they would suffer from player unavailability. Thus chose which games they played, and when very carefully, in the end they finished second with the best attack of the fourteen, scoring 47.5 points on average while conceding 13.9 on average.
On their day, the quartered shirts will cause anyone problems, their balance between backs and forwards can probably only be matched by their opponents on Saturday, KCB. These two don’t know how to play a dull encounter, looking at the possible individual battles across the pitch, this one will be another one for the books.
The Lions on their part have managed to keep the fort even without their players in the Vodacom cup, losing narrowly to Nakuru in the Enterprise Cup final. Then picking up the Great rift ten a side title.
They welcome back 6 faces from the Tusker Simba XV in Moses Amusala, Curtis Lilako, Max Adaka, Oliver Mangeni, Fabian Olando and Darwin Mukidza. During the league face, they finished in third, tied on points with Quins, they managed to score an average of 36.3 points a game while conceding 11.1 points.
The Lions will be looking to show that they have finally got over the Quins grip, after winning their last two encounters. They however will be wary of a Quins side that once given a sniff will be a hard customer.
As mentioned the individual battles across the park are mouth watering at the very least. Edward Oseko will be up against front row counter parts in the Tusker Simba XV, Curtis Lilako, Moses Amusala and Max Adaka depending on where Adaka will be preferred.
Oliver Mangeni will be up against national captain and second row counter part Wilson Kopondo. In the backs, the pair of Fabian Olando and Ken Moseti will probably line up against Nick Barasa and Dennis Muhanji. Arthur Ochieng lining up against Darwin Mukidza or Allan Omuka. Jacob Ojee stepping up against either Sidney Ashioya or Isaac Adimo.
With the bevy of half backs at Enos Otieno’s disposal it will be interesting to see who he goes with. This will be an area that the hosts will definitely have an upper hand in, having players who can turn a game on it’s head within the blink of an eye.
There really very little to pick between these two, with KCB probably edging it on recent form. This one will probably be decided by the strength of the two substitute benches, and the impact they will have when called upon.
During these two matches there will be a fundraising for former Blad captain Dan Lanya. As you might have heard, Lanya is in hospital, after he suffered a back injury that was not properly managed and later developed into meningitis, affecting his spine. There’ll be a contribution box going round the RFUEA and NAC grounds, please help out. Or you can send your contributions to 0724508696, Thank You!
Predictions :
Nakuru by 5 or less over Strathmore.
KCB by 5 or less over Quins.
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!
