Kabras, KCB joint top as race for Kenya Cup heads to the wire

Kabras Sugar and KCB RFC head to the second last fixtures of the 2018/19 Kenya Cup 2018 as joint-top leaders with 64 points with the goal difference separating the two.

Kabras, coached by Henley Du Plessis defeated Top Fry Nakuru 34-17at the Athletic club, Nakuru at the weekend while Curtis Olago’s KCB defeated resilient Mwamba RFC 27-20.

The two teams are currently at the top of the log heading to end of the season meaning they will earn direct semifinal qualification in the play offs.

The western based Kabras will face varsity side Strathmore Leos at the Kakamega showground this weekend as they bid to wrap the campaign on a high, but it promises to be a tough fight as the students are fighting to evade the chop

Leos are only three points ahead of bottom placed Mean Machine with 14 points, making the Saturday showdown one of the highlight matches.

Meanwhile Kabras Sugar assistant coach Edwin Achayo believes it will be a tough encounter since both teams will be avoiding losing points.

“Strathmore have been in the top flight for a long time and I’m sure they’re not looking forward to being relegated so they will be fighting for every single point they can; and we also know every point counts so it will be interesting.”

Achayo added that he expects to see a changed Strathmore: “With Leos fighting for survival and us for the top spot makes it an intriguing match because they need all points they can get and we also need to try and get a bonus from it to secure number one position,”he explained.

At the same time second placed Curtis Olago’s KCB will face third placed Kenya Harlequins who are 15 points behind them.

The two won at the weekend with Charles Cardovillis charges outshining defending Enterprise Cup champions Menengai Cream Homeboyz 32-17.

It will be a tough encounter as KCB tightens their grip targeting to retain the title while Quins will be looking for a win to finish the season on a high.

Fourth placed Nondescripts with 41 points will be searching for a comeback after they were shockingly defeated 30-17 by Menengai Oilers at the weekend.

Nondies face Kevin Wambua’s Mwamba RFC who also lost to KCB at the weekend to stay sixth with 39 points, two ahead of seventh placed Top Fry Nakuru as the battle for the play offs number intensifies.

The Mitch Ocholla coached Top Fry will in the meantime be up against varsity side Blak Blad this weekend at the Kenyatta University grounds. Blad are third from bottom on the log with 16 points.

Fifth placed Impala Saracens with 40 points, a point behind fourth placed Nondies and a point ahead of sixth placed Mwamba RFC will play varsity side Mean Machine who are placed last in the 12-team log with 11 points facing relegation.

All the teams placed third to sixth will face off in the top six playoffs for a berth in the semis.

With only two fixtures to go before the league ends, the top two teams will earn an automatic qualification for the semi finals of the play offs while the last two teams will be relegated to the Championship.