This weekend will be closing day for the 2014 calendar year with the league taking a break for the holidays, after Match Day 6 action.
The fixtures kick off on Friday evening with a titanic clash between Mwamba and Kenya Harlequins, under floodlights at the Impala club. Saturday action will culminate with another epic battle under floodlights, this time pitting defending champions Nakuru against Impala RFC.
In between we will witness current league leaders Strathmore Leos take on Nondies, as KCB travel to Kakamega to face the Western Bulls.
Mwamba v Kenya Harlequins – Friday, 7.00pm, Impala Club
What a way to kick off closing day, Mwamba taking on Quins, it rarely gets any bigger. The black shirts are currently placed fourth on the log, sitting on 20 points after 5 rounds. Quins are two places below their opponents on the night, with 15 points so far.
Kulabu have come out on the wrong end of this fixture the last two times these sides have met, losing 22-10 in last season’s encounter, before going down 30-13 at the Floodies. The side will however be confident that they will finally register a win against Quins, basing this on their current form.
The quartered shirts have been in shaky form so far in the league, winning three and losing two of their fixtures so far. They will be looking to close the year on a high, with a win here to build on last weekend’s 18-14 win over Nondies.
Kulabu will be the favourites here, having registered three straight wins coming into this one. Their squad also makes of a strong reading, Collins Injera leading the side which welcomes back Dennis Ombachi. Lavin Asego will start at fly half, he alongside Injera, Oriwo and Ongeri will be vital to the side.
Quins will most probably be without the influential duo of Dennis Muhanji and Patrice Agunda who are fresh from national sevens assignments. The side will however look towards the likes of Tony Mutai, Kevin Keegan, Lyle Asiligwa and Brian Okwomi, aiming for a repeat of what happened at the Floodies.
Impala v Nakuru – Saturday, 7.00pm, Impala Club
To wrap up 2014, defending champions Top Fry Nakuru will be up against a side they know too well in the Resolution Health Impala Saracens.
The Wanyore currently sit in second spot on 24 points, one less than league leaders Strathmore. The side is yet to taste defeat this season and will be looking to close 2014 with the same record intact. Impala have had an up and down run so far, losing three and winning 2 of the 5 matches played this far. The red shirts sit in 9th spot on 11 points.
These two sides have traded their fair share of personnel between themselves over recent years. It will be the first time that current Impala head coach Eric Situma will be meeting his former side Nakuru. A side he led to their first ever Kenya Cup triumph two years ago. Vincent Mose might also get a shot against his former side, with Kelvin Omiyo set to start at centre for Nakuru against his former side.
Coincidentally, these two met during the last game week of 2013, the Wanyore claiming a 27-0 result. Expect the battles in the scrums to be relenting, with both sides employing an almost similar technique. Duncan Ekasi, Sammy Oliech, Robert Odhiambo will be vital to the hosts, the probable return of Nato Simiyu and Dennis Karani doing the side no harm.
Nakuru are expected to have the upper hand in the forwards with Edwins Makori, Mike Okombe, Martin Owilla and Philip Kwame all turning up for the side. It will be in the backs, where they will need to be wary, Kelvin Omiyo will have to rally his mates against the rampant Impala back line.
With the possibility of finishing the year top of the league, Nakuru will keep a keen eye on the result between the Leos and Nondies. That match set to precede this one.
In other fixtures the Djs play the Monks at the UoN, the Monks fresh from registering their first ever Kenya cup win. The Homeboyz will be looking to get back to winning ways, having lost in their last two outings.
Third placed KCB will face 8th placed Western Bulls at the Kakamega High School. KCB looking to end the year on a high, with their unbeaten record still intact. The Bulls will be reeling from that defeat at the hands of the Leos. This one is bound to be a cracker.
Blak Blad will be facing Mombasa at the MSC, with both sides looking for their first wins of the season. Kabras out for their fourth win on the trot when they face Mean Machine at the UoN grounds.
Collated Fixtures :
Mwamba v Kenya Harlequin – 7.00pm, Impala Club
Saturday 20 December 2014
Homeboyz v Catholic Monks – 2.00pm, UoN
Mean Machine v Kabras Sugar – 4.00pm, UoN
Mombasa Sports Club v Blak Blad – 4.00pm, Mombasa Sports Club
Western Bulls v KCB – 4.00pm, Kakamega High School
Total Nondies v Pan Africa Strathmore Leos – 4.00pm, Impala Club
Resolution Impala Saracens v Top Fry Nakuru – 7.00pm, Impala Club
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!
