NAIROBI, Kenya, March 3- Defending Kenya Cup champions, Lunchbar Quins are on course of clinching a hat-trick of titles after establishing a five point cushion at the top with two rounds remaining.
Quins topped the eagerly anticipated ‘Ngong Road Derby’ 25-8 over neighbours Impala as second placed Menengai Oil Nakuru RFC kept up their chase with a hard-fought 14-6 win over Homeboyz in the cream of the weekend action.
In the game of the round, Impala went ahead when international Victor Mose slotted home a penalty but Quins hit back immediately as Patrice Agunda crossed the whitewash in the corner as Eden Agero missed the conversion for a 5-3 lead.
Impala would respond with a try from Ian Minjire, this after Lawi Buyachi beat the gain line, his fellow forwards retaining possession from the ruck and attacking in three phases.
Brian Nyikuli would put Quins ahead for good, touching down after his side had mauled from a line out on the Impala five yards.
With only two points separating the sides, the match would be a close contest, Impala pressing on but unable to turn their possession into points. Quins would head into the interval leading 10-8.
Second half action saw Tony Mutai score Quins third try and they soon earned their bonus point. Captain Victor Sudi would score the fifth, giving his side a 25-8 lead and despite a late surge by Impala, they held out for the win.
Quins face Homeboyz in the next round with victory almost assuring them the crown in the penultimate phase of the competition as Impala, who slid to sixth prepare to play Nondies on Saturday.
Homeboyz are reeling from a narrow loss from the title chasing Nakuru and remain rooted second bottom with the winners welcoming tricky Mwamba RFC who are smarting from a 25-14 loss to Mean Machine.
Elsewhere in the competition, Nondies moved up to seventh with a tense 24-22 victory over Strathmore Leos whose title aspirations took a severe dent as they dropped to fourth.
Former titleholders KCB moved up to third with a 40-16 mauling of basement outfit Kisumu RFC in their backyard.
Collated Kenya Cup Results
Lunch Bar Quins 25 Impala RFC 8
Homeboyz RFC 6 Menengai Oil Nakuru RFC 14
Strathmore Leos 22 Nondies 24
Mean Machine 25 Mwamba RFC 14
Kisumu RFC 16 KCB 40