There have been several significant picks from the opening three rounds of the 2019/20 Kenya Cup, for instance, Kabras racking up an 89-0 score line over Kisumu on match day one in Kakamega.
We could also talk about Kisumu’s response on match day two where they stunned Kenya Cup aristocrats Nondescripts with a 19-17 result on match day two.
There is also Western Bulls dramatic second half recovery which saw them overcome a 0-19 half time deficit to stun Kenya Harlequin 21-19 at the RFUEA Ground.
And at the time of preparing this report, successive Kenya Cup champions between 2010 and 2014, Top Fry Nakuru and Kenya Harlequin are currently at the bottom of the log.
These two sides incidentally meet on match day four at the Nakuru Athletic Club. Hosts Nakuru, champions in 2013 and 2014 occupy last position, winless after three outings. They started their campaign with a 31-5 defeat away to cross town rivals Menengai Oilers. Their fortunes were no better on match day two as Menengai Cream Homeboyz came visiting and left with the 15-10 result. KCB then subjected them to a 50-13 defeat last weekend In Ruaraka, a result that condemned them to twelfth position.
Quins who won the last three of their eight titles during the heady three-peat period between 2010 and 2012 have fared no better. They began their campaign with a 26-13 defeat away to Menengai Cream Homeboyz. They nearly overturned a 29-3 deficit at home to champions KCB on match day two but were unlucky to be on the wrong end of the 32-20 full time score on match day two.
Leading 19-0 at the break against Western Bulls last weekend, a dramatic second half collapse allowed their visitors to score three converted second half tries, claiming the memorable 21-19 result that left Quins second last, also winless like Nakuru but with a superior points difference.
With these shared statistics, there is certainly all to play for when both sides step on to the Nakuru Athletic Club turf at 4.00pm on Saturday.
Oilers host KCB in Nakuru
Over on the other side of Nakuru town, fourth placed Menengai Oilers host second placed KCB at the Moi Showground. The Oilers, playing their second season in the Kenya Cup, are experiencing better fortunes than their cross town rivals Nakuru whom they defeated 31-5 on match day one. They then pulled off a hard fought 27-21 win away to Western Bulls on match day two before succumbing to a 25-20 defeat last weekend at Menengai Cream Homeboyz. They are winless in their two previous outings against KCB, falling 27-5 and 29-20 last season in fixtures where they played their hearts out. They certainly have the potential to pull off an upset against the reigning Kenya Cup champions and will grab that opportunity should it present themselves.
KCB are second on the log, having accumulated 15 points off bonus point wins against Western Bulls (48-11), Quins (32-20) and Nakuru (50-13). The bankers looked particularly shaky in the second half of their match day two encounter against Quins but bounced back in emphatic fashion last weekend at home to Nakuru. They head to Nakuru well aware of the threat from the Oilers, making Saturday’s fixture an attractive one for fans and pundits alike.
Will the Sarries bounce back?
That will be the question on the minds of Resolution Impala Saracens supporters when they take on Stanbic Mwamba at Impala Club. Last weekend’s 27-3 defeat away to Kabras saw them lose their unbeaten record and slip from second to fifth on the log. Prior to that defeat, they had registered two bonus point wins, 26-14 away to Nondies and 57-9 at home to Blak Blad. They come up against a sixth placed Mwamba who returned to winning ways with a 65-22 win over Kisumu in what was an entertaining match three fixture. Previous matches between these two sides have been rich in entertainment value and Saturday’s encounter should be no different.
Jamhuri Park double header
The second double header of the season once again takes place at the Jamhuri Park. Third placed Menengai Cream Homeboyz will be keen to keep their unbeaten record against Kenya Cup returnees Western Bulls in the early kick off.
Homeboyz are three out of three, grinding out wins against Quins (26-13), Nakuru (15-10) and Oilers (25-20). The deejays will be awake to the fact that Bulls can spring a surprise as evidenced by last weekend’s victorious second half rally against Quins.
Nondescripts will take on Kabras Sugar in the 4.00pm kickoff at the same venue. The Rangers finally got off the mark with last weekend’s 38-23 win at Blak Blad, a result that hauled them to seventh place on the log. Kabras Sugar have so far exhibited imperious form that sees them sit on top of the table with 15 points from three bonus point victories. They’ve averaged 53 points a game and will be out to maintain this trend when they take on their hosts
Expect fast paced action at Kenyatta University
The teams currently placed ninth and tenth respectively will take on each other at the Kenyatta University. Kisumu, making a return to the Kenya Cup after a five year hiatus will be looking for their second win of the campaign when they play hosts Blak Blad who are winless three games into the season. Both sides are plucky, full of running and uninhibited in their rugby, making Saturday’s fixture a must watch.