Media Release: Kenya Cup Match Day Eight Preview

: Friday, 27 January 2012 10:49

Kenya Cup match eight takes place on Saturday 28 January 2012 with five fixtures, four in Nairobi and one in the Central Rift town of Nakuru. We preview the weekend fixtures. League positions in brackets.

Impala RFC (5) v Kenya Harlequin FC (6)

These two sides, both located on Ngong Road are next door neighbors, only separated by the fence between the Impala Club and Kenya Cup holders Quins home ground, the RFUEA Grounds. These two sides have dominated the Kenya Cup in recent years, and their rivalry, as witnessed during previous Ngong Road derbies has been one of the rugby calendar’s top draws in recent year. Saturday’s duel at the Impala Club is no exception.

Both sides find themselves in mid-table as the league slowly snakes its ways towards its half way point.

Hosts Impala come into this fixture off the back of a three match unbeaten streak that has seen them register two wins and a 15-15 draw with KCB in their last fixture after a shaky start to the season that saw them lose one and win three of their opening three fixtures. They will expect to maintain their good run against a Quins side who have their tails up after snapping a three match winless streak with a gutsy 22-21 result over Mwamba last weekend at the RFUEA.

Both sides have games in hand over current leaders Mwamba who top the standings on 20 points from seven outings. Impala, on 17 points from six outings, may be fifth on the log and key on their minds will be bridging that three point gap with the leaders. Quins offers the perfect platform for the hosts to achieve this.

Quins are currently placed sixth, with 12 points from five outings. They know that registering a second successive win, which, depending on the outcome, could see them draw level with their opponents, providing them with the opportunity to pile the pressure on the leading pack as their title defense gathers momentum.

Both sides are somewhat evenly matched in the forwards and backs, setting the stage for what should be an exciting clash and on paper, this appears to be the weekend’s top draw.

Mwamba RFC (1) v Mean Machine RFC (9) – RFUEA Grounds

Mwamba RFC are perched atop the Kenya Cup log with 20 points coming off four wins and three losses from their seven outings to date. They will look to improve on last weekend’s performance against defending champions Quins when thrice they led, 7-0, 14-10 and 21-15 before going down to a narrow 22-21 defeat at the RFUEA.

Mwamba will surely have corrected those lapses as they seek to consolidate their lead in the assured manner, registering a win against a Machine side that are no pushovers despite their current table placing.

Machine raced to a 23-3 lead against Nakuru RFC in their last fixture but survived a late rally that saw their opponents score seventeen unanswered points, barely holding on for the 23-20 result, a win nonetheless. Building from this result is what the students will definitely do, another win for them could see them climb out of the league’s second from bottom position.

Mwamba have a competent set of forwards and some quality in the backs but you can never count out Machine’s inspirational forward Cedric Odera who time and again marshals his side to deliver strong performances. Matches between the two sides have previously been close, entertaining fixtures and Saturday’s clash should be no different.

Nondies (7) v Strathmore Leos (2)

Resurgent Nondies, currently placed seventh on the log play host to second placed Strathmore Leos at the Jamhuri Park.

After a slow start to the season, the multiple Kenya Cup champs in years gone back have seemingly gelled and have registered results that lifted them off the league’s basement. Another win for the white shirts could possibly see them rise to sixth overall, depending on the outcome of other fixtures on the day.

Strathmore showed great character in rallying from 3-17 after twenty minutes in Kisumu to eventually overcome their hosts 44-24 during last weekend’s encounter. That was a result that saw them return to second on the log as they stayed in pursuit of a maiden league title.

A win for the Leos could probably see them top the league standings on Saturday night, but this is again dependent on the results of other matches on match day eight.

Clearly, there is all to play for in this encounter.

Kenya Commercial Bank (3) v Kisumu RFC (10)

Kenya Commercial Bank are placed third, their three wins, two draws and one defeat accumulating 19 points that sees them level on points with second placed Strath but boasting a an inferior goal difference to the Leos. They host newly promoted Kisumu RFC who now prop the Kenya Cup league table.

Saturday’s fixture against Kisumu offers the Lions the chance to go top of the table. They will hope to achieve this by registering a bonus point but must be wary of an upset result, you can never rule that out.

Nakuru RFC (4) v Homeboyz RFC (8)

Nakuru RFC are currently placed fourth on the log with thee wins, a draw and two losses from six outings. They are just a point behind the teams in second and third and a further two points behind the league leading team. They will play host to Homeboyz in the only Kenya Cup fixture outside Nairobi this weekend. The hosts rallied narrowly lost 23-20 away to Mean Machine and had previously beaten Quins 13-0 in their last home fixture. They welcome a Homeboyz side that started well and has acquitted itself well, though a two match winless streak has seen the newly promoted side slip to eighth.

A win for Nakuru could see them top the table but like with several other fixtures highlighted, it is all dependent on other outcomes.

Action in the Eric Shirley, Nationwide and University leagues also continue.

Collated Fixtures - Saturday 28 January 2012

Kenya Cup

Impala v Quins
Mwamba v Machine
Nondies v Strath
KCB v Kisumu
Nakuru v Homeboyz

Eric Shirley Shield
Impala II v Quins II
Mwamba II v Machine II
Nondies II v Strath II
KCB II v Western Bulls

Nationwide West
Maseno v Kisumu II
Masinde Muliro v Webuye
Moi Uni v Kakamega
Bungoma v Eldoret

Nationwide East
USIU v Mombasa
Oryx v Blak Blad
Mombasa Poly v KCA
Pwani Uni v JKUAT – Postponed

Universities
Kenya Poly v Blak Blad II
Catholic v Thika RFC
Nazarene v KeMU
Daystar v Kimathi
Egerton v Multimedia
Comras v Kabarak