Teams dash for Kenya Cup rugby league play-off berths

Kenya Cup heads to one of its most exciting regular season end in recent times with six teams contesting for the four slots on Saturday that will earn them a place in the play-offs for semi-final slots.

Will it be third-placed Kenya Commercial Bank, who have 67 points, Kabras Sugar and Homeboyz, who follow with 67 points each?

The puzzle becomes complicated when former champions Nakuru and Strathmore Leos, who have 64 points each, are slotted in the mix. Mwamba, who have an outside chance with 59 points, could also sneak through.

AUTOMATIC PLACE

According to the new 2015/2016 Kenya Cup format, the first two teams in the log after the first phase secure the first two automatic places in the semi-finals.

The next four will proceed to a one-off play-off to decide who takes the other two places. Quins and Impala, one and two on the log respectively, are already assured of semis berths.

Perhaps the team that is almost sure of a bonus point and a place in the play-offs for semis is Kabras Sugar, who host 12th-placed Thika at the Bull Ring, Kakamega.

Already, leaders Kenya Harlequin and Impala Saracens have secured the two automatic slots for the semi-final since they are beyond reach with 76 and 75 points respectively.

Nakuru Athletic Club grounds will explode when Nakuru, the 2013 and 2014 champions, host four-time champions KCB while Homeboyz take on Quins at the Jamhuri Park showground.

Impala Sports Club will host another thrilling battle between host Impala Saracens and Strathmore Leos while Mwamba will be away to Nondescripts at Jamhuri Park showground.

A bonus point victory for Mwamba against Nondies won’t guarantee them a place in the semi-finals unless Nakuru and Strathmore stumble.

It’s the first time Mwamba and battered Nondies, who are placed 10th in the log, are meeting this season. “Never say never. We still have hopes as we bank on KCB and Impala to beat Nakuru and Strathmore for us to qualify,” said Mwamba coach John Mbai.

KCB, who have one foot in the semis, will be having memories of last year’s encounter as they face Wanyore. It’s at the same venue where the bankers lost 20-23 to Nakuru but matched on to snatch the Kenya Cup title from Great Rift side.

Homeboyz must beat Quins if they hope to make it to the play-offs. Homeboyz won 36-22 when the two teams met last year but Quins have improved greatly.

“We just have to win and there is no short cut to that,” said Homeboyz coach Simon Odongo. “There are our neighbours and we know them.”

Odongo has made two changes to his side, replacing injured Elphas Etemesi (prop) and Daniel Abuonji (scrum-half) with Jerry Olola and Brian Gisemba respectively.

Impala Saracens eye retribution against Strathmore, who beat them 14-37 last season. There is a lot at stake for the Leos, the 2013 losing finalists, since a loss will lock them out.

“We put ourselves under pressure when we lost last weekend to Mwamba but there is still hope. We must beat Impala again,” said Leos coach Mitch Ocholla.