NAIROBI, Kenya, November 9- The 2012/2013 Kenya Cup continues with match day two on Saturday with six fixtures lined up.
Reigning champions Lunch Bar Quins are away when they face promoted side Blak Blad at the Kenyatta University.
This fixture sees Blad, who were certainly not embarrassed in their 11-36 loss away to Nakuru last weekend going all out to upset the most dominant club side on the local scene over the past three seasons.
The students will rely on their home ground advantage and head coach Michael Otieno’s tactical prowess as they seek to claim a famous scalp on the day.
Quins, come into this fixture seeking to better last weekend’s 37-0 home win over Western Bulls as they seek to consolidate their lead atop the standings.
Led by Victor Sudi and boasting the likes of Willy Ambaka in their ranks, the Ngong Road side have the personnel to register a second win of the season but must wary of the threat posed by Blak Blad.
Mwamba RFC, currently placed second, are away to Total Oil Nondies at the latter’s Jamhuri Park home ground.
The black shirts posted a massive 43-8 result over Homeboyz while Nondies registered a 15-0 win away to Impala. Both sides will be driven by the need to post a win and this makes their encounter all the more interesting.
Nondies, have a solid set of forwards led by 21 year old captain Joseph Wachira, former Kenya international prop Derrick Wamalwa and back row man Cedric Odera who joined the side from Mean Machine in the off season.
Scrum half Collins Kimani will be called upon to link them up with an equally strong set of backs who include Biko Adema, Filden Sinei , Kelvin Were and Brian Beckham all of whom will be crucial in determining the tempo of Saturday’s match.
Mwamba will be no easy customers; though bearing in mind they too have quality forwards in 20 year old Dan Sikuta, Edwin Machanje and Louis Kisia.
If Bonke Atandi can coordinate these forwards with his backs who include Collins Injera, Dennis Ombachi, Lavin and Chris Asego, then this is set to be an entertaining game of rugby, probably even the match of the weekend.
Menengai Oil Nakuru RFC sit third on the log after the opening round of matches. They travel to Kisumu City for a tie against hosts Kisumu RFC who play their first match of the season after their opening fixture against KCB was postponed.
Nakuru overcame Blak Blad last weekend but should still be wary of the threat that Kisumu poses, particularly when playing at their Kisumu Polytechnic home ground.
Erick Situma’s charges will rely on flyhalf Martin Muita, utility back Gibson Weru and combative forwards Lawrence Buyachi, Edwin Makori and John Ekong’o.
A second win on the trot will be certainly aid Nakuru’s cause but Kisumu, coached by former Kenya international prop Arthur Shikwe will have other ideas.
He has in his ranks the Otieno twins, Elphas and Essau, Newman Opiyo and Dick Osano, potentially dangerous players who be relied on to deliver the result for the home side in their opening fixture of the season.
Mean Machine’s work this weekend is pretty straightforward, they must return to winning ways following their opening day 27-3 defeat to the Strathmore Leos last weekend. The task at hand is to defeat KCB at their home ground.
The varsity side will need to take the game to their opponents, keep their discipline, attack and score points at every opportunity.
With the top four sides qualifying for the league semi final at the close of the round robin phase, Machine come into this fixture knowing that another defeat will further complicate their chances of finishing among the top four.
In Dennis Omusula, Kelvin Gacheru, George Mutuku, Joel Maingi and Simeon Malaba, they have players with the pedigree to secure a win on Saturday.
KCB, playing their first league match of the season, will be out to avoid a false start, gunning for victory right from the kick off whistle.
Curtis Aluoch’s side surely knows the importance of having the best possible start to the season, and this can only be achieved by posting a win against their opponents and building on that momentum as the season proceeds.
The Ruaraka based side has a blend of youth and experience to choose from in Kenya international prop Curtis Lilako, Kenya sevens skipper Andrew Amonde, former international Dennis Mwanja, youngster Oliver Mang’eni, Philip Wamae, Peter Mutai, and Darwin Mukidza will all be key to Aluoch’s plans on Saturday.
Paul Murunga’s Homeboyz will be out to bounce back from last weekend’s 43-8 defeat to Mwamba when they host Mitch Ocholla’s Strathmore Leos at The Lion’s Den in Ruaraka.
Homeboyz side must be competitive against their visitors. If fly half Steve Matioli can deliver with ball and boot, bringing in the likes of Oscar Ayodi, Leon Mugaisi and Polycarp Odhiambo into the fray, then Homeboyz stand a chance against the Leos.
Mitch Ocholla’s Leos will go for nothing short of victory as his side seeks to keep their semi final hopes alive. Ocholla has capable personnel in Kenyan international fly half Kenny Andola, Tony Onyango, Brian Okwomi and McLahan Sikuku. He will rely on them to deliver their second successive win of the season.
Missing 11 players last weekend owing to the side’s participation in the Singapore Sevens, Impala RFC lost their opening match to Nondies , succumbing to a 0-15 home defeat. As they host newly promoted Western Bulls in their second fixture, they should be at full strength.
This will certainly give them the impetus to go all out for a victory against the Kakamega based Bulls. Head Coach Innocent Simiyu will look to Duncan Ekasi, Kevin Umbuge, Nyando Nyandigisi, Kevin Gisore and Richard Sidindi to deliver the result and kick start their league campaign.
After losing their maiden Kenya Cup tie to defending champions Quins last weekend, the Bulls will certainly dig deep for the inspiration and the belief that they can make something out of the season.
They will look to playing better than they did last weekend and will count on Kenya Sevens international Davis Chenge and playmaker Bram Shikanda to marshal the troops and go in pursuit of the result.
Action also continues in the second tier Eric Shirley, Nationwide and Chairman’s leagues.
Collated Match Day Two Fixtures
Kenya Cup
Blak Blad v Kenya Harlequin (4.00pm, Kenyatta University)
Nondescript v Mwamba (4.00pm, Jamhuri Park)
Kisumu v Nakuru (4.00pm, Kisumu Polytechnic)
Homeboyz v Strathmore (4.00pm, Ruaraka)
Impala v Western Bulls (4.00pm, Impala Club)
Eric Shirley Shield
Blak Blad II v Kenya Harlequin II (2.00pm, Kenyatta University)
Nondescript II v Mwamba II (2.00pm, Jamhuri Park)
Kisumu II v Nakuru II (2.00pm, Kisumu Polytechnic)
Homeboyz II v Strathmore II (2.00pm, Ruaraka)
Impala II v Kakamega (2.00pm, Impala Club)
Nationwide (Western)
Maseno Rest
Kakamega II vs. Bungoma 3pm Kakamega High
Webuye vs. Moi Uni 3pm Webuye DEB
Kisii vs. Masinde Muliro 3pm Egerton Uni (Kisii Campus)
Siaya vs. Eldoret 3pm Barding Sec School
Eastern
Oryx Rest
Jkuat vs. Kenya Polytechnic 3pm Jkuat JuJa
Multimedia vs. KCA 3pm Catholic Uni Karen
Egerton vs. USIU 3pm Egerton Njoro
Kabarak vs. Mombasa 3pm Kabarak (Nakuru)
Chairman’s League (Coast Edition)
Shepherds vs. Mombasa II 4pm Mombasa Sports Club
Jkuat Voi vs. Pwani University 3pm Wundanyi Stadium
Masaku vs. Mombasa Poly 3pm Machakos Club
Kemu Nrb vs. Spartans 3pm
University Edition
Daystar Uni Rest
Nazarene vs. KEMU 4pm Catholic Uni (Karen)
Mt Kenya Uni vs. Thika 3pm (TBC)
Comras vs. Catholic 3pm Kibiko High School
Stormers vs. Kimathi Uni 3pm East Africa Uni Kitengela