League debutantes Thika RFC’s 27-11 win over the Kenya Sharks on match day 12 at the Nakuru Athletic Club was quite literally a big win. Big in the sense that the Millars landed five tries and secured a bonus, big in the sense that it was their first ever win in the Kenya Cup, big in the sense that the result lifted them to twelfth overall in the latest standings.
Chrispo Adega was played in by Eric Gitau, going over chalk to score an unconverted for Thika but the Sharks replied with a Hassan Nyakundi drop goal. James Shabayi went over to give the Sharks an 8-5 lead and when Simon Jumba Saj drilled home a penalty, the Sharks appeared to be swimming away with the result, leading 11-5 with 26 minutes of the first half played.
Peter Mutai would make an early substitution, throwing on former Kenya Simbas international Steve Sakwa in place of Charles Nyaga at scrum half, and this proved to be an inspired substation, Sakwa easily dictating play with his distribution. Incessant Thika pressure saw Victor Imela go over for a try, Muchui Muriithi converting for a 12-11 lead at the break.
The Millars would dominate the second half, landing three unconverted tries through Imela, George Isanya and former KCB and Homeboyz utility back Curtis Katembo.
The win saw Thika go twelfth on the log, swapping places with former Kenya Cup champions Mean Machine who plunged to thirteenth following their 0-63 dismissal by KCB.