Eldoret, Blad and Machine Win Plaudits Despite Losses

After an opening weekend characterised by large scores running into the centuries, many had predicted a similar display on Match day two in the Kenya Cup with several so called 'mismatches' on the cards.

Action from the UoN (Photo - Nation Media Group)

New comers Eldoret, had suffered a 115-3 loss to last year's runners up Strathmore Leos. They now faced the daunting task of hosting the defending champions. The champions fresh from that resounding victory over Mombasa, odds could not be stacked heavier against the Eldoret side. 

Blak blad were 32-0 losers on Match day 1 against Mwamba at the Nairobi Railways Club, the Blad were now hosting the early league leaders Strathmore at the Kenyatta University grounds popularly known as the blad bin. Despite this being a campus derby, not many gave Blad a fighting chance, most backing the Leos to better the score Mwamba posted against the Blad.

Mean Machine,after a 31-8 thumping by the Kenya Harlequins on Match Day 1, would host KCB on match day 2. KCB the 2013 floodies champions, would be the fresher of the two sides after sitting out match day 1. Machine had been in a slump since the beginning of this campaign at the sevens, they failed to impress at their favourite tournament the Floodies and were now up against one of the favourites to win the league. Surely, this one had a big score for the lions on the cards, right?

In Eldoret, to the disbelief of the travelling fans and indeed some of the home faithful, Eldoret raced to a 17-5 lead mid way through the half. The new kids on the block had found the champions asleep and took full. advantage. As news of the score trickled to the various grounds in Nairobi, Nakuru were already on the come back trail, leading 20-17 at the break. 

Round the same time at the UoN grounds, KCB were struggling against a resolute Machine side. Managing only 5 points in the first half, the Eschuma had done a great job in ruffling the lions game plan and now the bankers were playing to their tune. Machine would have gone into the half with the lead had their kicks been more accurate, missing 4 clear shots at goal.

At the Blad bin, the hosts were trailing 12-0 midway through the first half, a score that would hold to the break. At this point last weekend, the Leos had already put 60 past Eldoret. In the other matches Nondies were leading Impala 17-0 at the break with Homeboyz already running away with the win against Mombasa at the Jamuhuri grounds. Mwamba were leading Kisumu 12-3 at the Kisumu Poly grounds.

Nondies vs Mombasa from Match day 1 (Photo - Nondies RFC)

The second half in Eldoret was more of what people expected as the Wanyore scored 50 points to Eldoret's 7, on their way to a 70-24 result. Despite the loss Eldoret had a lot of positives to draw from this, after displaying great tenacity to stretch the Champions. They would have sent a message to their opponents across the league that they are no push overs.

Machine kept getting in KCB's face, making life hard for the now formless Lions. To their credit the bankers managed to score two tries, as Machine finally scored from a penalty for a 12-3 final score. This could be Machine's turning point as they defended resolutely against a much larger KCB side, ruffling them at the set pieces and displaying the heart that is typical of the Eschuma.

At the Blad Bin, the Leos would hold on to claim a 20-5 win, a tighter score line than most had predicted. For Blad this could also be a lift of sorts, as they push for that first win the top flight since they came back up last season.

Action from Blad vs Mwamba on Match day 1 (Photo - Kulabu)

Nondies would successfully defended the Samson Odhiambo Memorial cup, with a commanding 22-3 win over Impala. The cup is contested between the two sides every time they meet in the league in memory of Samuel 'Chums' Odhiambo. 

Homeboyz hit the half century mark against Mombasa winning 58-6 at the Jamuhuri grounds. With Mwamba falling just short of that mark with a 43-3 win over Kisumu to score their second 5 pointer, the black shirts among three sides with a perfect 10 after two matches. 

The rise of the 'lower' sides means the relegation battle will be that much tougher..

ESS

The stand out result in the ESS came in Kakamega as Western Bulls II put an end to a run that had stretched for two years, beating the Arturos 24-8. In other results 6 tries from Collins Wanjala and three from Kingsley Litali saw the Cubs of KCB put 99 unanswered points against the Ninjas of Machine.

Nakuru II also registering a big win over Eldoret II with a 50-0 result, Homeboyz II were 46-7 winners against Maombasa II.

Collated Match Day 2 Results

Kenya Cup

Impala 3 Total Nondies 22

Eldoret 24 Top Fry Nakuru 70

Mean Machine 3 KCB 17

Kisumu 3 Mwamba 43

Blak Blad 5 Strathmore Leos 20

Homeboyz 58 Mombasa 6

Eric Shirley Shield

Western Bulls II 24 Quins II 8

Machine II 0 KCB II 99

Eldoret II 0 Nakuru II 50

Homeboyz II 46 Mombasa II 7

Impala II 39 Nondies II 5

Blak Blad II 3 Strathmore II 22

Kisumu II 0 Mwamba II 39

Nationwide League (Nairobi)

Comras 24 Multimedia 10

KEMU 3 USIU 82

Mt Kenya 12 KCA 16

Impala III 18 Catholic 16

Mwamba III 5 Daystar 21

Western

Kabras 80 Mt Kenya Kisumu 3

Siaya 24 Webuye 0 (W/O)

Rift Valley

University of Eldoret Rest

Kitale 6 Kericho 20

Molo 12 Kabarak 22

Nakuru III 5 Egerton 24

Coast

TUM 15 Malindi 7

Masaku 67 Taita Taveta Uni 0

SC Pirates 24 Pwani Uni 0 (W/O)

Shepherds 7 Stormers 8

Central

Nanyuki 46 Embu 12

Chuka 0 KEMU 22

Karatina v Kimathi (postponed)

Kiambu v Thika (postponed)

In other happenings, the Kenya fifteens side arrived safely in Windhoek Namibia yesterday night, for the Windhoek Draught Tri Nations, ready for their first match against Zimbabwe later today at 9pm (Kenyan time). Zimbabwe lost their first match in the tournament going down 35-26 to Namibia.

The squad in Namibia features 19 of the faces that won the Africa title earlier this year. Duncan Ekasi, Moses Amusala and Lawrence Buyachi return to the side as Max Adaka and Charles Omondi break into the squad for the first time, the Kangethe twins are unavailable with school commitments.

KXVs in action against Uganda

We will be the side to beat in this tournament that acts as a pre cursor to next year's world cup qualifiers. Also it will be a great chance for the technical bench to try out new combinations, at the front row to be more specific. It will be interesting to see or rather hear how Max Adaka performs at hooker.

The next fixture will be against the hosts on Saturday 6:15 pm, this should be the match that truly shows us how far we have come. The Namibians should be the biggest challenge to Project 2015, a good result and or performance here should be a great indicator. 

All the best to the side...

KWISHA....Nimeruka Nje!!

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