The top four teams at the close of the league phase that ran between November and February will converge at the Nakuru Athletic Club on Saturday 7th March as the Kenya Cup enters its semifinal stage. It is from this quartet that the eventual champion of Kenyan club rugby for the 2014/2015 season will be determined when the final is played a week later at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.
Defending champions Top Fry Nakuru host the double header by virtue of topping the log and are pitted against surprise package Kabras Sugar in the 4.00pm kickoff. The last time these two sides meets was on 15th November in Kakamega, Nakuru just edging the league debutantes 13-10.
Both sides reached the playoff in contrasting fashion, Nakuru finishing the regular season unbeaten, 13 wins from 13 outings placing them top of the log while Kabras who were playing in the Nationwide league last season booked their place in the last four with a 61-24 blitzkrieg of Pan Africa Strathmore Leos that saw them secure the final playoff berth on the last day of the league phase.
The day’s early kick off will pit KCB against Pan Africa Strathmore Leos. The bankers finished second at the close of the league phase, winning 12 of their 13 outings. The only blemish on their record was a 23-20 loss to Top Fry Nakuru in an enthralling fixture played at the same venue on Saturday 21 February 2015. They beat the Leos 38-17 when the two sides met on 7th February and will be out to do the double over the Leos as they look to reach a second successive Kenya Cup final, having fallen 20-13 to Nakuru is last year’s final.
The Leos finished the league phase third on the log and will look to avenge the match day eleven loss to the bankers as they look to return to the championship match for the first time since losing 39-3 to Nakuru in the 2012/2013 Kenya Cup final.
We will bring you the previews and team news in subsequent bulletins.