Murunga unbowed despite Harlequins defeat to Nondies

Kenya Harlequin Head Coach Paul Murunga remains optimistic despite his team’s 26-24 loss to Nondies RFC in a thrilling Kenya Cup encounter at Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi on Saturday.

This was Harlequins first loss this season, but Murunga believes they will quickly rise above it.

“We didn’t utilise our chances as effectively as we could have,” Murunga admitted.

“However, I think we can still take positives, especially from our second-half performance where we fought our way back into the game. This is the Kenya Cup - it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Losing to Nondies doesn’t mean we’re out of the race,” added Murunga.

Nondies Head Coach Oliver Collum lauded his team’s effort but acknowledged there’s room for improvement.

“One key moment in the game and a couple of crucial decisions went our way, but we’re proud of the fight and the win. That said, we still have work to do - we’re not yet playing at the level we want. At the end of the day, though, it’s all about getting the result.”

The match saw Nondies build on their recent momentum from a victory over Blak Blad and despite a valiant fight back by Quins which included two late tries, the attempts went unconverted, leaving Nondies to hold on for a nervy win.

The pulsating clash underscored the competitiveness of the Kenya Cup this season, as Harlequins’ unbeaten streak ended in a dramatic fashion.