KCB Lions resilience destroys Kabras Sugar challenge

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KCB Lions resilience destroys Kabras Sugar challenge

Loosing to KCB Rugby in the Kenya Cup finals of 2017 & 2018, Kabras Sugar came to this game with the intent to avenge recent match outcomes.

Kabras Sugar tried to encounter KCB last weekend with a plan. They aimed to hit them at both their strongest and weakest points. As a result, the KCB Lions saw this challenge, and stepped up there own game – eventually winning this Kenya Cup fixture 44-20, but under intense pressure.

The match started with an amazing curtain raiser, with the Eric Shirley Shield sides competing prior to the main event. That early match saw KCB beat Kabras 37-35. This brought tension to both teams, management and also the fans on hand. The match venue was sold out, with fans from both sides making the game feel so lively, and this made for a great day of Kenya Cup rugby.

Action Packed First Half

Kabras looking to fire first, they relied on many leading players to achieve this. With the likes of Brian Tanga, Dan Sikuta, former KCB player Max Adaka and the unstoppable Philip Wakorach, the visitors ‘hit it hard’. Gaining a penalty barely two minutes into the game, it was going to be a high intensity Kenya Cup match-up.

With such intensity, it didn’t take long for the first yellow card; as George Nyambua was sent to the bin after a high tackle. As a result, the Lions gained a penalty of their own, to finely poise the game.

Tang Tang (Kabras) with their machinery-like front row, produced some fine set moves. One example was with an amazing rolling maul, where Ephraim Oduor gave the match it’s first try. With that, the crowd went wild, knowing that the visitors were putting up a great challenge.

Both teams wanted to counter the early intensity, however, match referee Constant Cap was forced to send Brian Omondi to spend 10 minutes in the bin, after an offside offence. KCB (Kenya Commercial Bank) strengthened their efforts, and Oscar Sorano gave them their first try, with Mukidza with the extra two.

Some minutes before halftime, the bankers get another penalty. Mukidza boots in the points but, the Lions Roar doesn’t scare boys from Kakamega. A classy offload from Logan sets up Kabras Sugar to land their second try, and make a real game of it.

The Lions Roar ‘louder’ in Second Half

After the break, scrum half Mickey Wanjala opened up Kabras defence, to touch down right under the centre post. The too-and-throw nature of the game continued, where Tang Tang quick response gave them another powerful rolling maul.

That produced another try and, it really gave the KCB technical staff a tough job which the sides head coach Curtis Olago took with open arms. He demanded the Lions ‘pounce on their prey’ and gladly, it didn’t take long.

Brian Omondi made amends for his yellow card, with the third try for the bankers. His efforts gave great motivation, where Nelson Nyadat and Griffin Musila added two more tries late in the game for the Lions. A great response to the early plans of Kabras who soon  realized how the other ten Kenya Cup teams felt after losing to KCB.

This was the first loss to the Kabras Sugar team, and showed others that the Western region men ‘are in fact beatable’.

Final Score: KCB 44 – Kabras 20

The outcome went the way of the home team, with defending Kenya Cup champions KCB securing vital points. All 23 men contributed to this, as defence was required in holding back the Kabras Sugar committed start.

Several names will be celebrated in Nairobi, yet the agreed Man Of The Match was clear to all.

After the final whistle, all the fans only had one name to celebrate – Ken ‘Wrecking Ball’ Moseti. 

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Kenya Cup standings after Week 11

(More info from Kenya Rugby Union website)

Other Collated Kenya Cup Results

  • Kenya Harlequins 41 Strathmore Leos 21
  • Nakuru Rugby 29 Stanbic Mwamba 15
  • Nondescripts 10 BlakBlad 7
  • Mean Machine 15 Menengai Oilers 36

 

“Main photo credit – Denis Acre-Half”
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