Kenya Cup Match Day Six Previeiw

By Mike Kwambo After an exciting match day five in the 2009 Kenya Cup where front runners KCB and Nakuru finally had their unbeaten streaks ended, action on match day six takes a different angle with teams battling for ultimate control of the league as the first leg draws closer to completion. Here is a preview of the weekend's Kenya Cup matches. League positions in brackets.All matches kick off at 4.30pm on Saturday 18th July 2009. KCB (1) v Kenya Harlequin FC (2) : "The Lions Den" KCB Sports Club,Ruaraka: League leading KCB host second placed Kenya Harlequin at "The Lions' Den" in Ruaraka. Both sides welcome their international legionnaires who missed last weekend's fixtures as they were away with the Kenya 15's side that lost 11-29 to Morocco in the final of the CAR Cup Northern Zone competition. KCB lost their unbeaten record in their first home defeat to Impala since 2003 when they went down 9-15. Quins on the other hand ended Nakuru RFC's unbeaten record with a 26-9 home win over the "Wanyore" and will be out to build on the momentum gained from last weekend's result. KCB are a fiercely proud team who will not take Quins ambitions of inflicting a second successive defeat on them lightly.This top of the table clash promises to be a closely fought battle. Nakuru RFC (4) v Impala (3): Nakuru Athletic Club, Nakuru Fourth placed Nakuru RFC are smarting from that 9-26 loss to Kenya Harlequin that ended their unbeaten run and face an Impala RFC side who scored their first away win over KCB since 2003. The Nakuru Athletic Club has in recent seasons been turned into a fortress by Nakuru RFC who have claimed the scalps of KCB and Impala in previous seasons. Will the wounded Nakuru side be able to contain an Impala side who must definitely be on a high after last weekend's victory? Nondescripts RUFC(6) v Mwamba RFC(5):ASK Jamhuri Showground, Nairobi Despite missing four key players who were away with the Kenya 15's in Morocco, Nondies finally ended a string of heartrending losses with a narrow 19-15 away win over Mean Machine. They host a resurgent Mwamba side that has won two matches in a row. Each side has its strengths, Nondies having a slight edge in the forwards where Gray Cullen has been outstanding for the white shirts and Kenya in recent days while Mwamba's backline of Lavin Asego, Humphrey Kayange, Collins Injera and co are a nightmare for any defence. Tactics will be key in determining the outcome of this match. Like previous fixtures pitting these sides, expect an entertaining match. Strathmore(7) v Mean Machine(8): The battle of the varsity sides pits Strathmore University's Leos against the University of Nairobi's Mean Machine. Varisty matches have always elicited passion amongst the fans and players and this fixture should be no different. Hosts Strathmore have been unlucky, losing by the narrowest of margins in most of their matches. Mean Machine have not really got out of first gear and with the matches coming thick and fast, they need to do so if Kenya Cup survival is to be guaranteed. Both sides are full of running,this should determine the pace and outcome of  what should be a highly entertaining match The second division Eric Shirley Shield is also on this weekend. Below are the collated fixtures. KCB II vs Kenya Harlequins II Mombasa vs Impala II Nondies II vs Mwamba II Strathmore II vs Mean Machine II Daystar vs Nakuru II Methodist vs USIU West Kenya v JKUAT JKUAT v Kisumu (Juja)