Time To Wrap Up The League Phase

Can you believe it? 12 game weeks have just flown by. This weekend we will be wrapping up the league phase, with some mouth watering and potential season deciders lined up.

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The current top four will be facing each other, with fourth placed Kabras taking on Strathmore in a match that will go a long way in determining the last two qualifiers. On the other end of the table, the Monks will be giving their last push in the relegation battle when they host Western Bulls.

All eyes will however be on the top of the table clash between league leaders KCB and defending champions Nakuru RFC at the dreaded Suguta Valley. These two sides are unbeaten this far, something has to give.

Resolution Impala Saracens v Total Nondies – 7.00pm, Impala Club

Match Day 13 action will kick off in frantic pace on Friday night as sixth place Impala host neighbours on the log and on Ngong road, Nondies who are in 7th. This fixture will double up as this season’s Samson ‘Chums’ Odhiambo memorial match.

The hosts still have a mathematical chance of making the play offs, those chances however take a huge beating when you look at the possibilities. They will have to pick maximum points here while hoping that Kabras and Mwamba fail to pick up any points in their respective matches.

However slim that chance, Impala will be looking to give it their best effort here and finish the season strongly. On their part Nondies will be looking to cement 7th spot, seeing as they are only one point ahead of eighth placed Homeboyz. The white shirts are back to back winners of this fixture, claiming a 15-0 result in 2012, following this up with a 22-3 win last season.

Impala will be without veterans Nato Simiyu and captain Duncan Ekasi for this assignment. Kanyiri Kariuki starts at fly half for the hosts, he will be vital in the sides charge and is ably cushioned with the experienced trio of Samson Onsomu at scrum half, David Dinda and George Okowa at centre.

Brian Beckham of Nondies in past action
Brian Beckham of Nondies in past action

Paul Oimbo, Mathew Musalia and Joel Omer will be the anchor men in the forwards with the likes of Kelvins Karani and Eric Kopondo also playing a key role in this department.

Nondies will have the comfort of a full squad to pick from, Ben Nyambu, Ken Nyagetuba, Ronnie Mwenesi and captain Joseph Wachira will lead the charge in the forwards. The nifty pairing of Brian Beckham and Evans Musili start at half back with Calvins Biko, Oscar Dennis and Kelvin Were partnering in the back three.

These two have been in a rich vein of form, Nondies winning 4 matches on the trot, with Impala picking up 5 back to back wins, coming into this one.

Top Fry Nakuru v KCB -4.00pm, Nakuru Athletic Club

The two dominant sides in the country for the last three years renew their rivalry at the weekend. They are yet to taste defeat this season and are only separated by a point on the log.

With play off action already guaranteed you’d probably think that this would be a dead rubber match, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Apart from the bragging rights and a home semi final at stake, many view this as a preview to this season’s final.

The last seven meetings between these two giants have produced six wins for the Wanyore and one for the Lions. Nakuru are yet to lose to KCB at home in the last 3 years, the same can be said for any other side in the country. The closest KCB have come to a win against Nakuru in the league was in the 2011/12 season when they battled to a 15 all draw at the Lion’s Den.

Philip Kwame in past action.
Philip Kwame in past action.

Grim statistics indeed for the visitors, though they will find comfort in their last meeting, where they beat the Wanyore 25-21 in last year’s Floodies semi finals. On Saturday though, those statistics will count for little if anything as these two heavy weights pound at each other, something will have to give.

The Lions have been the form side this season, hitting the right notes as the season wore on, since the turn of the year they have registered consecutive bonus wins. In 5 out of those 6 wins, they have claimed the bonus point in the first half.

Nakuru have also not been badly off, though they have been stretched during that same period, they have always found the extra kick to lead them to victory. Again at the weekend, form will count for very little if anything once centre referee Godwin Karuga kicks off this battle.

As always this one will be won at the forwards, an area the Wanyore are notoriously good at, especially at home. The return of Lawi Buyachi means head coach Dominique Habimana will be spoilt for choice, with Edwins Makori, Charles Odhiambo, Martin Owilla, Mike Okombe, Dalmus Chituyi and Philip Kwame all lining up for a spot in the 4,5,6,7 or 8 shirt.

The experienced trio of Giles Littlewood, Sammy Warui and Isaiah Nyariki is set to start at front row for the Wanyore.

Since they were beaten twice in the Kenya cup and Enterprise cup finals, KCB have been polishing their forward play especially at the set piece. Head Coach Curtis Olago keeps faith with his regular pack, Curtis Lilako partnering Moses Amusala and Peter Karia in the front row with Oliver Mang’eni partnering the experienced John Ahenda at lock. Captain Philip Wamae leads the back row alongside Elly Mukaisi and Max Adaka.

Fabian Olando in Full Flight against Strathmore
Fabian Olando in Full Flight against Strathmore

The loss of former Nakuru kid Billy Isabwa has come as a blessing in disguise for the Lions as it has handed Ken Moseti a rare opportunity to show off his skill at Fly half. The diminutive play maker will however meet his biggest challenge to date as he is set to face Martin Muita.

Veteran scrum half Gibson Weru will probably start for the defending champions, and is set to square it out against Felix Wanjala of KCB. The mid field battle of Kelvin Omiyo and Edwin Okwema on one side with Brian Omondi and Fabian Olando on the other is set to be explosive as always.

Against Strathmore, Calvin otieno, Nelson Oyoo and Godfrey Mbeya started in the back three for Nakuru, I expect the same trio to start at the Suguta Valley with maybe Javan Murayi the only change. They will be lined up against Darwin Mukidza, Jacob Ojee and Allan Omuka of KCB.

In the last few matches, KCB have had blistering starts, they will be looking for a similar case here as they gun for Nakuru’s unbeaten runs. They will however need to be wary of a Nakuru side that has been turning up in the latter stages of their matches.

With very little to pick between these two, you feel that whoever keeps their concentration for the full 80 minutes will walk away with the points. These two know each other oh too well,which might breed caution in their play, expect that to ware off as the match progresses. This is one of those fixtures that smirks of a draw.

Other fixtures will see Strathmore travel to Kabras in a fixture that will draw the attention of the Mwamba brigade, a Leos win will see Kulabu leap frog Kabras into fourth spot. The Monks will be hosting the Bulls with their survival hopes hanging on a string, a loss here will see them join Mombasa in the relegation list.

Mwamba will play Mean Machine at the Impala club, the Eschuma will be looking at the Catholic game as a Bulls win will guarantee them top flight status next season, no matter the result here. Kenya Harlequins will wrap up the season at the coast, where they will hopefully play already relegated Mombasa.

I end this post on a sad note, as the rugby fraternity mourns the death of former KCB and Kenya front row Franklin ‘Stoodges’ Amiani. There will be a minutes silence in his honour before all the matches kick off this weekend. Fare thee well Stoodge…

Collated Match Day 13 Fixtures : 

Friday 20 February 2015

Resolution Impala Saracens v Total Nondies – 7.00pm, Impala Club

Saturday 21 February 2015

Blak Blad v Homeboyz – 2.00pm, Impala Club

Mean Machine v Mwamba – 4.00pm, Impala Club

Catholic Monks v Western Bulls -4.00pm, Catholic University

Kabras Sugar v Pan Africa Strathmore Leos – 4.00pm, ASK Kakamega Showground

Mombasa Sports Club v Kenya Harlequin – 4.00pm, Mombasa Sports Club

Top Fry Nakuru v KCB -4.00pm, Nakuru Athletic Club

KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!

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Poghie

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