Kenya Cup match day five brings with it some interesting match ups with the top four sides playing amongst themselves. League leaders Nivea Kenya Harlequin travel to the Lions' Den in Ruaraka where they face off against second placed Kenya Commercial Bank RFC while third placed Resolution Health Impala RFC host fourth placed Nakuru RFC at the Impala Club. This is one weekend where you would have to clone yourself or wish that the matches were spread over the weekend as part of some double header or something….wishful thinking on my part….
Now back to matters rugby,
Kenya Commercial Bank RFC v Nivea Kenya Harlequin FC
Venue: The Lions' Den' Ruaraka
Unbeaten Quins and KCB share the top two positions, tied on 19 points though Quins have a superior goal difference that puts them top of the log. The Ngong' Road effortlessly beat visiting Mean Machine 46-3 on match day four but will be required to the best of their ability when they face a KCB side that scored a bonus point victory when they overcame Strathmore 25-8 on match day four. Past ties between these two adversaries have been bruising and Saturday's clash will be no different. With playoff positions tentatively secured, unbeaten records are at stake. The winner of this clash will go top of the standings heading into match day six.
Resolution Health Impala RFC v Nakuru RFC
Venue: Impala Club
Defending champions Resolution Health Impala RFC have quietly been going about their business. One of three unbeaten sides, they lie third, a point behind the leading duo. They play host to Nakuru RFC in what should be another entertaining clash. The Gazelles scored a morale boosting 41-21 win over Mwamba at the Railways Club and will be out to stay unbeaten when they face a Nakuru side who bounced back from a loss on match day three to beat visiting Nondescripts RUFC 37-14 last weekend. Impala has a contingent of ex-Nakuru players namely Lawrence Terer, Dennis Abenga, Kelvin Omiyo, Lawrence Buyachi and Vincent Mose and it will be interesting to see how they perform against their former club. It should be a highly charged, possibly entertaining encounter.
Strathmore v Mwamba
Venue: To be announced
Four matches into the season and Strathmore Leos find themselves seventh on the log. They host a Mwamba side that is in an unfamiliar last position heading into match day five. With both sides still seeking their first win in the 2010 Kenya, it promises to be a very open match.
Nondescripts RUFC v Mean Machine RFC
Venue: ASK Jamhuri Park
Nondescripts RUFC play host to the University of Nairobi's Mean Machine RFC. Both sides were on the receiving ends of heavy defeats on match day four and will be searching for atonement when they step onto the Jamhuri Park turf on Saturday. Nondies are winless heading into this fixture while Machine, with one win from four will be out to keep their flagging playoff hopes alive with a victory on Saturday.
All matches kick off at 4.30pm
Eric Shirley Shield
Newcomers Homeboyz RFC lead the Eric Shirley Shield's pool A with a cumulative 19 points stemming from four wins in four outings. They are looking firm favorites to qualify top of this pool. The identity of the second semi finalist remains murky as Quins II, Nakuru II, Impala II and KCB II are still all in with a chance.
Kisumu RFC and Masinde Muliro are joint top in pool B, having collected 20 points from four matches. With ridiculously high goal differences and barring any unfortunate incidents, these two sides should qualify for the semi final playoff. These sides incidentally meet on match day five at the Kisumu Polytechnic .
Universities league
Mean Machine II are sitting pretty atop pool A of the Universities league with 19 points from four outings. They are six points clear of second place USIU and should have no problems making it to the final four. Blak Blad are third on 9 points and in with a realistic chance of making it to the semis.
Mombasa's Spartans led pool B with the maximum 20 points from four outings. They have vanquished all their opponents, picking up bonus points in all their victories. It is safe to assume that they are already qualified for the semis. Daystar University lie second on 14 points and are likely candidates to book the second semi final berth from this pool.
Collated Eric Shirley Shield and Universities league fixtures
ESS Pool A
Impala II v Nakuru II
KCB II v Quins II
Strathmore II v Mwamba II
Nondies II v Homeboyz
ESS Pool B
Kisumu RFC v Masinde Muliro
Kakamega RFC V Bungoma RFC
Webuye RFC v Moi University
Maseno V Siaya
Universities Pool A
USIU v Homeboyz II
Machine II v KEMU
Blak Blad v CUEA
Kisii V KCA
Pool B
Strath III v Egerton
Daystar v Spartans
Quins III v Kabarak
Kenya Poly v Shepherds
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Michael Kwambo
+254 722 757 299
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