Quins, Impala suffer, Nakuru top standings
Aron Lubisia of Homeboyz gets past his marker during their Kenya Cup rugby match against Harlequins at KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka, Nairobi, on Saturday. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Nakuru claimed the top spot from Strathmore Leos when they touched down four tries for a 39-3 bonus-point victory over visiting Western Bulls at the Nakuru Athletics Club.
- KCB, the only other team yet to lose this season, mauled Nondies 24-10 at Ruaraka grounds to stay third in the log with 33 points. Five of KCB’s victories have come with bonus points.
- Kabras tossed to their first appearance in top four after they stunned visiting Impala 45-27 in Kakamega. Kabras, who displaced Mwamba from fourth position, have 26 points from five wins and two losses. Mwamba are fifth with 25 points from five wins.
Champions Nakuru RFC moved to the top of the Kenya Cup standings after matches played at the weekend that also saw newcomers Kabras Sugar break into the top four.
The fortunes of Ngong Road-based clubs continued dwindling as Kenya Harlequin, Nondescripts and Impala got a thorough thrashing away.
Nakuru claimed the top spot from Strathmore Leos when they touched down four tries for a 39-3 bonus-point victory over visiting Western Bulls at the Nakuru Athletics Club.
And Strathmore came from behind to beat Mwamba 23-22 at the Impala Sports Club. Strathmore rallied from 8-22 down at the break for their first win without a bonus point this season.
This made Mitch Ocholla’s Leos concede the league leadership to Nakuru although the 2012/2013 Kenya Cup finalists have 34 points, same as the Great Rift side who enjoy a better aggregate. Both sides enjoy a clean run with seven wins each, six of these with bonus points as Kenya Cup entered the second phase before the semi-final play-offs.
KCB, the only other team yet to lose this season, mauled Nondies 24-10 at Ruaraka grounds to stay third in the log with 33 points. Five of KCB’s victories have come with bonus points.
KABRAS STUNNED IMPALA
Kabras tossed to their first appearance in top four after they stunned visiting Impala 45-27 in Kakamega. Kabras, who displaced Mwamba from fourth position, have 26 points from five wins and two losses. Mwamba are fifth with 25 points from five wins.
But will Kabras withstand the test of time to reach the play-off semi-finals?
“Kenya Cup is a tough tournament. I can only take a game at a time, and train hard to win,” said Kabras coach Anthony Ogot. “We thank God where we have reached and hope to uphold the momentum heading to the play-offs.”
Then came the victory by Homeboyz who touched down five tries, four conversions and a penalty to dispatch Quins 36-22 at Ruaraka grounds.
But Homeboyz , who are sixth with 19 points, will have to work harder in their next matches to catch up with the leaders. Seven points stands between them and fourth-placed Kabras.
Quins, who have been blowing hot and then cold, are placed seventh with 16 points from three wins and four losses. They followed by Nondies and Impala who tie on 12 points, each having won twice and lost five times.
