Hosts Lunch Bar Quins welcome Resolution Impala Saracens to the RFUEA for a Kenya Cup match day three fixture on Saturday 22 November.
It’s that time of the season when neighborhood bragging rights, league points and positions are up for grabs as this set of bitter rivals who are only separated by a fence meet up to serve up another installment of the Ngong Road Derby.
Quins have had a perfect start to the season, registering two bonus point wins, 32-14 against Blak Blad and 33-5 against Mean Machine and now sit second on the log with the maximum 10 points but only undone by a Strathmore Leos side that boosts a better try count. They have dominated Impala in recent seasons, winning the last three encounters 22-13 (2011/2012 season), 22-19 (2012/2013 season) and 27-12 (2013/2014 season).
While they have largely stuck to the side that has been successful in its two previous outings, the quartered shirts have made miniscule changes, handing first starts of the season to scrum half Lyle Asiligwa and lock Tony Mutai. Asiligwa starts ahead of Godfrey Okoth who has been relegated to the bench, a move that leads to Joash Odhalo missing out on the match day squad entirely.
Isaac Adimo who started the first two fixtures does not make the match day squad, Kevin Keegan taking up his position at fly half with Eric Shikuku coming in at fullback. The inclusion of the experienced Mutai at lock relegates Michael Simiyu to the bench.
Impala, currently placed seventh on the log, started their league campaign with a battling 29-40 loss to Mwamba on 8th November, following this up with a 45-7 win over Homeboyz last weekend and will look to build from there as the season progresses.
Erick Situma has reinstated George Okowa to the starting line up for this encounter while retaining faith in the midfield pairing of Anthony Nyandigisi and Jeffrey Koome Anampiu. It is interesting to note that Anampiu’s father (Jeff Senior) and uncles (Gordon and Peter) played the better part of their club rugby at Quins in the 90s.
Situma has also brought in Pius Shiundu for Lameck Dunde while making two changes in the forwards, relegating back row man John Ouko and prop forward Hussein Marjan to the bench with Joel Omer and Bobby Kweya taking up their slots in the starting fifteen.
There should be some interesting duels to watch out for, most notably the battle of the fly halves, Kevin Keegan (Quins) versus Nato Simiyu (Impala), both very influential players for their sides. Other interesting duels will be in midfield, the Quins duo of Patrice Agunda and Dennis Muhanji facing off with Nyandigisi and Anampiu.
This match is definitely one to stir the passions in the stands during the match and the bar counters after the match with the winner celebrating, bragging and goading the loser for days, weeks even months after the final whistle.
It kicks off at 4.00pm
Line Ups
LUNCH BAR QUINS
15. Erick Shikuku, 14. William Mawira, 13. Dennis Muhanji, 12. Patrice Agunda (captain), 11. Paul Abuto, 10. Kevin Keegan , 9. Lyle Asiligwa, 8. Brian Okwomi, 7. Petro Misango, 6. Brian Wandera, 5. Anthony Mutai, 4. Herman Humwa, 3. Ernest Ngong, 2. Edward Oseko, 1. John Kiilu
Replacements:
16. Frank Kalwale, 17. Stephan Ottou, 18. Michael Simiyu, 19. Amos Ngatia, 20. Godfrey Okoth, 21. Brian Maina, 22. Johnstone Mung’au, 23. Dennis Omusula
RESOLUTION IMPALA SARACENS
15. Sammy Oliech, 14. George Okowa, 13. Anthony Nyandigisi, 12. Jeffrey Anampiu, 11.Pius Shiundu, 10. Nato Simiyu, 9. Michael Mugo, 8. Duncan Ekasi, 7. Felix Okari, 6. Joel Omer, 5. Paul Oimbo, 4. Erick Kerre, 3. Robert Kweya, 2. Edgar Obino, 1. Hosea Ngesa
Replacements:
16. Matthew Musalia, 17. Hussein Marjan, 18. Erick Kopondo, 19. John Ouko, 20. Samson Onsomu, 21. Robert Odhiambo, 22. Ian Minjire, 23. Joshua Momanyi
Referee: John Bosco Muamba
Assistant Referees: Nicholas Gachoya, Ronald Okoth
Live on Zuku Sports 300/301