After four weeks of trying to get a win since the 2019/20 Kenya Cup began, Nakuru RFC finally got a victory against Ngong roadside rivals.
Monate Akuei’s penalty gave the hosts an early lead after 20 minutes but, Kenya Harlequins responded with a brilliant play from Lyle Asiligwa and Patrice Agunda for the first try of the game.
Harlequins Brian Onyiego added another try, that continued the barrage of the Top Fry side. To make matters worse, moments before the interval, a Lyle penalty gave the Quins an 18-3 lead against the hosts.
it looked to continue the poor start to their season, but gladly for Nakuru RFC fans, the halftime ‘chat’ from Felix Oloo seemed to strike a chord with the players. And a brilliant second-half rally will make fans smile when they discuss the team’s recovery.
Top Fry Nakuru RFC brilliant second-half rally
A few words from the coach in the changing room saw the hosts come out all-guns-blazing in the second half. Cutting the deficit to five points after quick tries from Hannington Wabwire and John Okoth.
The measure of any team is how they deal with adversity. So with a change in attitude, fans on hand witnessed a switch in momentum. Quins no longer had the advantage, as the Top Fry men pulled up their socks and put their heads together to ‘go for the win’.
Jenkins Kipruto barged over the whitewash to draw level with only 24 minutes of play. Then Collins Onyango sliced through the Harlequins defence, to take the lead. A Monate Akuei conversion made the score 18-25 – a lead they held till the full time whistle.
Second half rally sees Nakuru defeat Quins in match day four action https://t.co/cRMd8HmpeM pic.twitter.com/W5ZaybcJKE
— Kenya Cup (@TheKenyaCup) November 16, 2019
‘The Last Word’ from head coach Felix Oloo
Speaking to head coach Felix Oloo, ‘we as Nakuru have been waiting for a time like this to show how much the boys have improved. Our first 3 games were all away games and the fans had not seen the improvement first hand.’
‘Winning against Quins will boost the morale of the players as well as the fans.’ he finished by saying this is reborn to a successful run in the to Championship.
Collated #KenyaCup FT scores (week 4)
Nakuru 25 – Quins 18
Oilers 13 – KCB 43
Impala 26 – Mwamba 24
Blakblad 31 – Kisumu 3
Nondies 15 – Kabras 40
Homeboyz 36 – Western Bulls 17— Kenya Cup (@TheKenyaCup) November 16, 2019
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In other Game Day 4 results: Impala v Mwamba
In Nairobi, the Impala Saracens faced Stanbic Mwamba in a contest that had fans and players up on their feet. Sitting side-by-side on the table, the winner would leave with a slight advantage – and it would be a game that ws balanced.
In fact the result came down to a last-minute act. And as the two teams could only be separated by two points. it shows the closeness of the competition, of the game in Kenya too, where sides are motivated to play for the full 80 minutes.
As teams go further into the 16-game regular season, the highest performing sides will naturally ‘rise to the top’. Impala got the better of Stanbic Mwamba this round, yet the Kulabu may be a challenge for the side who face-up to them.
Round Four Kenya Cup Standings
After four weeks of great action from all teams, Kabras Sugar remains top of the table with 2018/19 champions KCB coming second on equal points to the league leaders Kabras (on points differential).
Kenya Cup 2019-2020 – League Standing Week Four
Kabras, KCB, Impala, Homeboyz, Nakuru & Blad garner Tries-Bonus
Mwamba and Harlequin collect Loss-Bonus #KenyaCup pic.twitter.com/rVVGHee2s3— Denis Half-Acre (@AcreHalf) November 16, 2019
Three unbeaten teams include Homeboyz, and it will make for more interesting fixtures when any of these teams meet. KCB host the Homeboyz on November 23, and it will be a great contest.
After their miraculous ‘get out of jail’ win, Nakuru RFC moves into 9th place, as Quins go bottom of the table with no wins so far in the 2019/20 Kenya Cup.
“Main photo credit – Simon Mulumba Cmoncy, Nakuru RFC”
