Focus shifts to the playoffs as the Kenya Cup, KRU Championship and Nationwide league competitions resumes this weekend after last weekend’s break for quarterfinal action the Enterprise and Mwamba Cups.
The Impala Club plays host to the Kenya Cup Top Six playoffs. Home side Resolution Impala Saracens, fourth at the close of the regular season host Stanbic Mwamba in the early kickoff on this double header weekend. Matches between the two sides this past season have been close, Impala winning the first leg fixture at this venue 26-24 before going down to an 11-15 result in the reverse fixture at the Railway Club. Impala bowed out at this stage last season and will be looking to get one over Mwamba who were fifth at the close of the regular season and losing semifinalists last season.
Homeboyz, third placed at the close of the regular season play Nakuru’s Menengai Oilers in the 4.00pm kickoff. Homeboyz won both league fixtures against Oilers 25-20 and 37-14 respectively and have certainly asserted themselves as a potential threat to Kabras Sugar and KCB’s recent dominance of the league and after missing out on last year’s playoffs, are raring to go. Oilers are only two seasons old in the Kenya Cup and making their maiden appearance in the playoffs after a memorable debut last season. It would be a fairy tale if they claimed the deejays scalp but in the event this doesn’t happen, they have definitely left a lasting impression on the country’s top tier league.
KRU Championship
Three time Kenya Cup champions Mean Machine, third at the close of the regular season continue with their quest to leave the second tier when they host Egerton Wasps who were sixth at the close of the regular season in their KRU Championship Top 6 playoff fixture at the University of Nairobi. The other playoff fixture pits another former Kenya Cup side, USIU Martials taking on Northern Suburbs who are featuring in the playoffs in their maiden season in the second tier.
Nationwide
The third tier Nationwide league hits the national quarterfinal stage following the conclusion of the regional championships last weekend. At stake at the close of the national playoffs is promotion to the second tier KRU Championship for the two teams making the national final.
Back to the quarterfinals and there are four fixtures on the cards this weekend.
Nairobi regional champions Shamas Rugby Foundation host Western runners up Maseno University at the KCB Sports Club while Rift Valley champions Kitale host Central regional champions JKUAT Cougars at the St. Anthony’s School in Kitale.
Rift Valley runners up Kabarak University play at home to Coast champions Technical University of Mombasa at the Kabarak University with Western champions CITAM Kisumu are at home to Nairobi region runners up Daystar Falcons at the Maseno University.
There are also two Top 6 playoff fixtures in the Eric Shirley Shield reserve league. Menengai Oilers II host Stanbic Mwamba II at the Moi Showground in Nakuru with Homeboyz II playing Resolution Impala Saracens II in a fixture tentatively set for the ASK Jamhuri Park.
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