Top rugby guns Kabras, KCB seal playoff spots as regular season ends
Kenya Cup top two teams Kabras sugar and KCB RFC have both sailed through to the local rugby playoffs set to be played next weekend.
Kabras Sugar finished top of the regular Kenya Cup standings with 49 points accumulated after they were handed a walkover by Impala Saracens at the Nandi Bears Sports Club on Saturday.
Saracens failed to honour the fixture which doubled up as their last match of the regular season, handing Kabras the much needed five points to go top of close rivals KCB and finish five points ahead of the defending champions.
Due to their respective wins in the last game of the season, both teams secured a home playoff semi-final match.
Kabras who are coached by the experienced Dominique Habimana qualify for the playoff final and will earn the right of hosting the duel as a reward of finishing atop the Kenya Cup table.
In an early kick off at the same venue, varsity sides Starthmore Leos and Masinde Muliro University (MMUST) locked horns, with Leos rising to the occasion for a 34-12 win.
The win by Leos propelled them to fourth with 25 points after earning a bonus point and automatically qualifying for the playoffs.
Hosts Kenya Harlequins rallied from a 24-5 half-time score with tries from Kenya Sevens international Herman Humwa who scored a brace, with Mark Omoding and Charlton Mokua adding a try each. Top Fry Nakuru’s sole converted try, scored by Kenya Simbas center John Okoth.
Kenya Harlequin’s Eliud Mulakoli extended his team’s lead with a penalty kick in the opening minutes of the first half before Nakuru dotted down two unconverted tries for a 27-15 score with 14 minutes left on the clock.
Mark Wandetto, Humwa, and Ainea Ndakwa all went over the try-line, with Humwa’s and Ndakwa’s tries being converted successfully for a 46-15 full-time score.
Ngong racecourse hosted its first rugby match first time this season, a fixture pitting Nondies against Nakuru-based Menengai Oilers, but the hosts suffered a narrow 10-13 loss in the 2:00 pm kick-off fixture.
Oilers coached by former Kenya sevens speedy winger remain third in the Kenya cup league with 30 points after narrowly defeating Nondescripts 13-10 at the RFUEA grounds.
Varsity side Strathmore Leos will join Oilers, Kabras and KCB RFC in the Kenya Cup playoff semi-finals to be played next weekend.
Kenya Cup results
Kabras sugar 24-00 Impala Saracens
Strathmore Leos 34 – 12 MMUST
Menengai Oilers 13 – 10 Nondescripts
Top Fry Nakuru 15 – 46 Kenya Harlequins
