And The Cup Finalists are...

The identity of the finalists in the three cup competitions was revealed this past weekend with the list containing a few surprises.

Mike Agevi in action against Johnson Akiruga (Photo courtesy of Kulabu)

The second division of the Mwamba Cup saw Webuye earn a spot in the final courtesy of a walk over against Masinde Muliro. They will now face JKUAT in the final, the students beat their hosts Masaku 24-10. 

Mwamba Cup Division II
Webuye w/o Masinde Muliro
Masaku 10-24 JKUAT

The first division saw the biggest upset of the weekend with the fall of the mighty Arturos to the cubs at the Lions' den. There was nothing to choose between the two sides at the end of regular time, with scores tied at 16 all. Extra time saw the cubs drill in two penalties for a final score of 22-16, to keep the defence of their title alive. It was sweet revenge for the cubs who had fallen twice before at the hands of their opponents. The Arturos don't seem to like the Mwamba Cup at all, their last defeat before this one also came last year in this competition at the quarter finals. 

The cubs will face the boks of Impala who also surprised most with that 21-3 win at the Mombasa sports club.

Mwamba Cup
KCB II 22-16 Quins II
Mombasa SC 3-21 Impala II

The Enterprise cup saw Nakuru keep their chase for a double alive when they beat KCB 21-9 at the NAC. A tight first half saw KCB take a 6-0 lead early on after dictating play for a better part of the opening stages. The Wanyore would however go into the break with their tails up after a converted try made it 7-6.

Action from the NAC, (Photo -  Nakuru RFC)

 KCB came out of the blocks with everything they had, missing two penalties in quick succession before Nakuru took over, stretching that lead to 14-6, the green shirts would narrow that gap to 5 points courtesy of another penalty. It was however not to be for the Lions as the Wanyore went over the chalk for the third time to drill the final nail on the KCB coffin ready for transportation back to the den, 21-9 final score. Another case of so close yet so far for the Lions, another season goes begging for them after very promising start. If this season was a marathon KCB would have been the jungu runner that dashes into the lead early on and keeps the lead until the home stretch where his final kick fails them. The Wanyore by the way in that marathon are the 'engine kubwa'.

The other semi final saw Kulabu battle a spirited Nondies side to eventually progress to the final. Nondies took the lead early on from two Sinei penalties at 6-0, both sides would then be forced into early changes, Odipo for the white shirts with Oriwo and Oduk for the black ones due to injury. The ever green Lavin Asego reduced the deficit to three from a penalty, a Steve Okeyo unconverted try gave kulabu the lead for the first time in the match at 8-6. To this point in the game, the white shirts held the upper hand especially at the forwards but could not make this advantage count. Loius Kisia stretched that lead to 15-6 at the break off another running play from Mwamba.

Ronnie Mwenesi in action (Photo courtesy of Nondies RFC)

The injury to Oduk meant Injera who had started at 6 had to fill in at the more demanding 8 role, the white shirts had managed to keep him at bay this far and like the score line showed they were still in the contest.

The second half kicked off with Nondies quickly putting together phases in the forwards, the experienced Derrick Wamalwa going over, Sinei converting to make it 15-13. Kulabu who were holding their own especially at the forwards, a quick take by Injera from a penalty saw him dash over 40 meters resulting in a David Oluoch try, Lavin converting for 22-13. What Kulabu were lacking in the forwards they more than compensated for in the backs, the trio of Chris Asego, Vincent Jumba and Lavin Asego doing the damage whenever they had possession. Nondies would cut that deficit to 4 points from a Jeremy Ayugi try off a maul, 22-18. Kulabu playing a great territorial match with Lavin Asego's trade mark 'heaven scratchers' one in particular that definitely touched one of the angels was too hot for the Nondies back three. The white shirts started losing the grip in the forwards, with Kulabu taking them on in the scrum, though with Collo at eight the quality of the ball going out was not as good with concerted pressure on their number 9. This would however not  have a noticeable effect on Kulabu's play, Dan Sikuta going over to make it 29-18 after the conversion. 

Dan Sikuta on his way to the line (Photo - Kulabu)

Nondies kept on pounding at the Mwamba defence, Ronnie Mwenesi and Teddy Salano specific thorns in the black shirt defence. They continued making forays into Kulabu territory, with phases in the forwards, Joseph Wachira eventually making it a four point game again at 29-25. Nondies would however fail to come back two Lavin Asego penalties at the end meaning e will have a replay of the 2008 final on the 6^th of April.

Collins Injera vs Ken Moseti (Photo - Kulabu)

Kulabu finally have their day in a final, after coming close in the Kenya Cup, that match against Nakuru promises to be explosive. We take a break this weekend as Nairobi moves to Nakuru for the 24^th edition of the Menengai Oil ten a side, this should be a welcome break for the finalists who now have enough time to rest amply, attend to and injuries and plan accordingly.

Enterprise Cup
Nakuru 21-9 KCB
Nondies 25-35 Mwamba 

Finally A Happy Birthday to a great friend and name sake, Peter Lugano of Nondies...hii mwaka tuwache udiva tafadhali..

With that Ladies and Gents enjoy the short week ahead aaaannndddd.....

KWISHA.....Nimeruka Nje!!