It was billed as the battle of the titans, with the two most decorated sides in the last three seasons locked horns for the title of Titan and the 200,000 pay cheque it carried.
This tie was all but settled, at least on paper, once the respective team lists were released. The Lions fresh from lifting the Floodlit title made wholesome changes to their side, with only James Kilonzo and Arthur Owira retaining their starting slots from the previous weekend. From the match day 23 KCB only retained 6 players.
Nakuru on their part left little to chance as they fielded a formidable 23, led by the ever reliable Edwins Makori, alongside the likes of Isaiah Nyariki, Mike Okombe, Martin Owila, Martin Muita, Leslie Ochieng, Calvin Otieno and Godfrey Mbeya.
On the turf, KCB started off the brighter of the two sides, receiving immediate reward for their dominance in the opening 5 minutes through an Arthur Owira try. That lead was however short lived as the Wanyore settled into their rhythm.
Martin Muita scuffed the first chance to get points on the board from a penalty but was on hand to convert Mike Okombe’s try a few minutes later for a 7-5 lead. Nakuru were now firmly in control of this match, causing the green KCB side all sorts of trouble especially at scrum time.
KCB were giving away penalties after almost every breakdown and set piece, Muita again guilty of a missed penalty but was soon converting the second try. This after Moses Amusala was sent to the bin for an infringement at scrum time, Nakuru opting to go for a scrum off the resulting penalty to see Martin Owila ground from the back of the scrum.
There was little relief for KCB as Nakuru kept pounding away at the now shell shocked Lions side. To their credit KCB did well to hold on to dear life during this period. There was however little they could do as man of the match Geoffrey Ominde went over for a 19-5 score line as Moses Amusala rejoined the action.
Finally there was a lifeline for the Lions as Marlin Mukolwe went over either side of Geoffrey Ominde’s and Martin Muita’s yellow cards at the half time break. That try taking the score at the break to 19-10, more importantly for KCB they would have a two man advantage at the restart.
Despite trailing by 9 points KCB would be the happier of the two sides, given the pounding they had received in that half to be only trailing by 9 points and now heading into a 10 minute period where they had a 2 man advantage.
The Wanyore would rue their wastefulness in that half, they could have been two or three scores further ahead and now had to withstand that opening 10 minutes. Given their dominance in that first half they were still firm favourites for the win.
As if to underline their dominance in this match, it was Nakuru who were first on the board in the second half. They kept hold of the ball neatly, to find themselves inside the KCB 22, inching ever closer to the line. KCB’s nightmares at the scrum kept haunting them as centre referee awarded Nakuru a penalty try off a scrum, for a 26-10 score line after the conversion.
Nakuru were soon down to 12 men as Mike Okombe joined the half back pairing in the sin bin, surely KCB would take advantage now, or would they? The Wanyore were again resilient enough to see off the 5 minute period before Geoffrey Ominde and Martin Muita returned.
Soon after Gramwel Bunyasi electrified the field with a blistering run to touch down for Nakuru and all but hand them the Titans cup at 33-10 score after Muita’s conversion. Probably sensing that the game was now won Nakuru rung in the changes handing their young bench a run out.
The Lions were however not done as two quick fire tries from Essau Otieno and Peter Kilonzo saw the side come to within 11 points of Nakuru. The Wanyore were struggling to hold on against a side they had practically run over in the last 65 minutes.
KCB had a new lease of life as they stringed together some great phases of play, the new half back pairing of Paul Regei and Benjamin Ojema, alongside Essau Otieno orchestrating this KCB come back. Arthur Owira would go over with a minute to play, Essau Otieno converting for a 33-29 score, could KCB complete this come back?
There was still time for the restart, with KCB regathering and building up from their half. They however shot themselves in the foot with a handling error after the hooter had sounded, to hand Nakuru the Titan trophy and the fat pay cheque with a 33-29 full time score.
It was a deserved win for Nakuru, who save for the closing 10 minutes and opening 5, had been the far superior side in this encounter. The wholesome changes could have cost them the game but they should be proud of this performance especially the first 15 minutes of the second half.
KCB should take a few positives from this encounter and at the same time count themselves lucky, that after such a poor showing they could still look at the score board and feel proud. The match should have served as a great lesson for the side’s young charges heading into the new season.
Earlier on the Kenya Harlequins beat Menengai cream Homeboyz RFC 32-10 in an entertaining encounter that saw the hosts claim a morale boosting win especially after that heavy loss to Impala, a couple of weeks back at Floodies.
Elsewhere Impala ran in 15 tries against Mean Machine at the Impala Club with Kabras edging out the Heathens of Uganda 7-6 at the Kyadondo Rugby Club.
With little over a fortnight to the new Kenya cup season expect a few more friendlies at the weekend as sides look to fine tune their combinations ahead of what will be a grueling season.
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!
