Another big weekend awaits in the Kenya Cup with six matches to choose from on a what should be a mouthwatering day of rugby.
Nakuru’s Moi Showground is the venue for the clash of the round between hosts and beaten finalists last season, the Menengai Oilers, who will be up against leaders and former champions KCB.
We all remember Geoffrey Ominde stroking home eight penalties as Oilers stunned KCB 24-17 in last season’s semifinal at the KCB Sports, a result that brought the bankers reign as champions to an end.
The Oilers come into this clash placed third on the log, and off a 25-21 away loss to the Strathmore Leos, their second loss of the season. They are safe, they are assured of a place in the semifinal playoffs but will need to return back to winning ways. KCB is just the perfect opponent for Gibson Weru’s charges and a win for the Oilers would certainly be a big boost.
For KCB, this match is about setting the record straight against the Oilers. The bankers have passed every test asked of them this season, registering eight successive bonus point wins and victory in Nakuru will be good enough to assure them of a top two finish, and with that, a home semifinal.
The outcome of this match will be eagerly awaited.
Defending champions Kabras Sugar host Strathmore Leos at the Kakamega Showground in an equally important clash. A bonus point win for Kabras, in the event that KCB lose or fail to garner a bonus point result, puts the sugar men top of the log.
Kabras warmed up for this game with a 42-7 win away to Mwamba while Strathmore will be relishing another upset, having defeated Oilers 25-21.
Over at the RFUEA Ground, it is on song Kenya Harlequin, currently sitting in the final playoff spot, taking on fifth placed Blak Blad. Both sides come into this clash off the back of close wins, Quins edging hosts Nakuru 22-21 as Blak Blad won the varsity derby with a 35-27 victory over Mean Machine. The stage is set for a competitive outing on Ngong Road.
Catholic Monks have been a joy to watch, going toe to toe with their opponents. They face Homeboyz in Karen, this should be an exciting fixture.
Both sides lost on match day 8, the Monks losing 59-16 to KCB as Homeboyz were shocked 21-10 by Masinde Muliro. The Monks badly need the win to keep their hopes of survival alive while Homeboyz must find a response after last weekend’s shocker to Masinde Muliro.
Speaking of Masinde Muliro, and the Kakamega based side are on a high after last weekend’s win over Homeboyz. Despite the result, though, they stayed bottom of the log and face a difficult opponent in Nakuru in Lurambi. A second win for Masinde Muliro great boosts their chances of survival but Nakuru will be no pushover.
Two teams with rich histories do battle at the University of Nairobi when hosts Mean Machine and Mwamba meet. It has been a difficult campaign for both sides, more so for Machine who find themselves in the relegation zone, they will fancy themselves against a Mwamba side who will be out to end a streak of three successive heavy defeats.
