KCB ran riot over Strathmore to sustain Kenya Cup run

KCB Lions extended their unbeaten run in the Kenya Cup to 11 after mauling the hapless Strathmore Leos 50 -15 in a lop-sided clash played at Jamhuri Park, Nairobi on Saturday.

KCB captain Curtis Lilako was elated by the crushing victory over a side that is yet to win this year but cautioned his side against complacency in their bid to reclaim the title.

“The coming games will definitely be more technical than the ones we have played before. We need to work harder and improve on our strengths,” the skipper told Citizen Digital after the match.

Lilako was concerned by the three cheap tries they conceded that threatened to haul Strathmore back to the game before the log-leaders sealed the emphatic result.

Strathmore neatly held off KCB’s rampant attacks for the first 10 minutes but three minutes later Brian Omondi crossed the whitewash for the opening try.

Shortly after, Francis Mwita grounded the second which was successfully converted by Darwin Mukidza.

The tries continued flowing with Davis Chenge out-muscling two opponents before proceeding to beat the last man and place the ball under the posts with Mukidza sure with his boot to put the roaring Lions 21-0 in the lead.

Despite Strathmore pulling one back through Churchill Otieno as the break approached, the losing side was unable to build from it and instead continued to falter, with their failure to hold onto the ball for long when in possession and a lack of co-ordination costing them dearly.

They were punished shortly before halftime when Shaban Ahmed snatched a loose ball and run all the way to score the fourth five-pointer for KCB with Mukidza adding the extras.

Sensing a rout, Chenge rounded off his brace moments after the teams switched sides after the breather and with victory all but assured, KCB coach Curtis Olago made a raft of changes to give reserve players a chance to join enjoy the party.

The move paid of immediately with substitute Maalim Mukolwe who slotted in at scrum-half executing a neat pass that found Ian Indimuli who floored his opponent and scored the sixth try.

However, the highlight of the game came when Teddy Ogutu held off several KCB players before off-loading to Morris Otieno who skipped past despairing opponents and turned on the gas along the edge of the field for a superb individual try for Strathmore.

Despite chasing a seemingly lost cause, the try lifted the Leos who came out charging again to ground their third through Elkeans Musonye but the whiff of an improbable comeback was snuffed out when Rocky Aguko and Felix Ojow added two quick five-pointers to bury their opponents.

RESULTS SUMMARY

Mwamba 15 – Quins 7
Impala 17 – Bulls 15
KCB 50 – Strathmore 15
Kabras 42 – Blad 14
Nakuru 20 – Nondies 12
Homeboyz 38 – Machine 0

-Report by Mwangi Githinji