KCB, Kabras a cut above the rest as Kenya Cup fiesta starts

Game week one of the National Rugby League, Kenya Cup served great entertainment across the country as regular rugby resumed throughout the country after a two months hiatus after the completion of the start stop 2020/2021 season.

Rugby heavyweights in the top division still proved up to the task of dominating local rugby with champions KCB and Kabras Sugar starting on a winning note.

KCB narrowly beat Homeboys at their home ground in Ruaraka, Nairobi as Kabras handed Blak Blad a heavy defeat of 49-3 underlining their intentions of wrestling KCB RFC off the title they have made theirs winning it in four consecutive seasons.

Kenya Harlequins claimed the bragging rights in the Ngong Road derby as they edged Impala Saracens 29-20, showing the hope of reviving the once dominant giant of Kenyan rugby.

A quite interesting match was played miles away from the capital, as Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) RFC showed early intent of breaking the rugby heavyweights ceiling, downing Nondescripts to collect their first four points of the season.

MMUST RFC head coach Dr. Ochieng' Ahaya was impressed by the showing of his boys, sending an early warning to the rest of the teams in the Kenya cup.

“We have a young team but you can see how determined they have been to see off a very experienced side in the Kenya Cup. They had to show maturity and eventually we won our first match this season, and surely it’s one of the many to come,” a joyous Ahaya noted.

Having had to learn the hard way demands of the top tier in their debut season last year, MMUST RFC are now in their second season in the Kenya Cup and Ahaya feels his boys are ready to overcome and make it to the playoff spots.

It’s a resolve echoed by his assistant John Asila, who intimated their eyes are fixed on making the top four to secure slots in the Kenya Cup playoffs, having finished sixth in the league last season.

“Our aim for the season is to get to the playoffs and maybe the finals and you never know what may follow. We just have to take it step by step and make sure the boys are ready for the games as they come, but we have the quality to go all the way,” Asila added.

Dr Ahaya noted that the core of the team was hugely made up of young students at the university which will be a bonus when they get deeper into the season.

“We have 18 year-olds and very young guys who are first-years here in the university which is very encouraging to see. They have quality, we just have to improve their skill and they will be the future of rugby in Kenya.”

MMUST RFC recently strengthened their playing unit by roping in six young players including Caleb Owino, Kelly Akengo, Byron Odongo, David Bunduki, John Biden and Ngaira Renhard among others.

MMUST next face Homeboyz RFC at their Masinde Muliro backyard, as Kabras head to Nakuru to battle Top Fry at the Nakuru Athletics club.