Nakuru give Kenya Cup champions something to think about ahead of their clash with Kabras
Will KCB survive Kabras in Kakamega this weekend? Kenya cup rugby enthusiasts are eager to find out how the defending champions will fare when they play their main challengers in an away match this coming Saturday after the Bankers were exposed by Nakuru in the second half of the sole fixture in round 11 on Saturday.
KCB Sports club hosted the sole league fixture after two matches were postponed and it was expected that the hosts, who annihilated Mwamba 50-3 in the tenth round, would sweep aside Nakuru who came in from their fifth consecutive defeat claimed by Strathmore Leos in a 44-5 upset but the visitors had a good second half and a solid comeback attempt.
Against Nakuru, KCB heavily relied on their forward who scored all their four tries, two tries in each half through their backrow trio of Felix Ojo, Rocky Aguko and Elly Mukaizi and their skipper Curtis Lilako who sealed the win for a crucial bonus point.
Nakuru’s second half fight was hampered by the quality of the hosts substitutes and failure to make the most out of their first half penalties.
KCB bonus point win contributed to their current 38 points lead which is eight points ahead of their next opponent, Kabras.
Nakuru left Ruaraka having tipped Kabras to exploit the home advantage against the defending champions should they maintain their superior forward play in the league that has earned them consecutive six bonus wins.
The Bankers came to this encounter hungry for their eighth consecutive win while Nakuru were not willing to register their sixth straight loss without a fight having been wounded by students in the previous round.
KCB opened the scores with a try by Felix Ojoo in the fifth minute and after the conversion, Nakuru dominated possession and earned penalties but failure to capitalise on their first half penalties was costly in the end after two penalty kicks sailed wide before Fredrick Odongo gave them their only three first half points after a successful penalty in the 23rd minute but the gap was widened shortly afterwards after a few phases by the hosts to earn a scrum down for Elly Mukaizi to scored their second converted try.
The second period saw Nakuru score through Kenyan international John Okoth but a missed conversion left a gap the hosts were able to increase through their third try by forward Rocky Aguko in the final quarter of the match where captain Curtis Lilako sealed a 26-3 win with his try off a rolling maul.
The loss for Nakuru left the side still perched eighth on the standings with 10 points.
Wanyore needed a win to climb to position five or a losing bonus point to break their 10-point deadlock with seventh placed Nondescripts and ninth placed MMUST.
