Impala, Homeboyz, Mwamba seek first win of the season

Limping Impala Saracens, Homeboyz and Mwamba will be seeking their first win of the season when they take on tough opponents in the Kenya Cup that enters the fourth round on Saturday.

Impala Sports Club will host a double header when Mwamba take on champions KCB Rugby in the opening duel at 1pm, which will be followed by the clash between hosts Impala Saracens and visiting Kabras Sugar Rugby, the 2016 champion, at 3pm.

Kenya Harlequin will host Homeboyz at the adjacent Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground at 3pm as Nondescripts welcome Strathmore Leos at Ngong Racecourse at 3pm.

In other matches, bottom of the table Nakuru, champions in 2013 and 2014, also hunt for first win of the campaign when they take on Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad at the Nakuru Athletic Club while Masinde Muliro and Menengai Oilers duel in Kakamega.

It will be quite interesting to see how Impala, Mwamba and Homeboyz will rise from their three previous defeats knowing the kind of the opposition they are up against. Their opponents are yet to lose this season.

Impala were beaten by neighbours Quins 29-20, lost to Menengai Oilers at their backyard 28-10 before going down to Strathmore Leos away 22-12.

Homeboyz have also been on the receiving end, losing to KCB Rugby, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad 18-10, 22-17 and 28-0 respectively.

Mwamba offered little resistance against Menengai Oilers, Strathmore and Kabras Sugar, losing to them 25-19, 28-18 and 46-17 respectively.

Both Impala and Kabras, who last met in Kenya Cup final in 2016 where the Western Kenya lads carried the day under a heavy afternoon pour, have made several changes to their squads ahead of the clash.

It goes without saying that Impala will be the weaker side based on their previous outings.

Loose-head Osongo Nyamwaya will partner with Kelvin Ronnoh having replaced Brian Ochieng as Maurice Ochieng moves to second row partnering Henry Rabach, who has replaced Bill Arigi.

Evans Omondi comes in for Paul Mutsami while Sammy Kimwakwa goes at scrum-half instead of Johnson Waiganjo. Hillary Alemba has replaced Tony Kadhambi at the wing while Mark Ongayo and Israel Soi will operate at the centre replacing Samuel Mbeche’s and Derrick Kinyari.

Kenya Simbas fly-half Jone Kubu has relegated Ntabeni Dukisa to the bench with head coach Jerome Muller opting to start Thomas Simiyu at blind-side  instead of Kevin Wekesa.

Interestingly, Shem Angugo will face his former club Impala for the first time since moving to Kakamega. And will; team up with Brian Juma at lock.

Muller has also replaced Emmanuel Were and Asuman Mugerwa with Ephraim Oduor and Hillary Mwanjilwa respectively at front row.

Kabras whacked Impala Saracens 24-0 in their last meeting last season.

Homeboyz tactician Simon Odongo has made seven changes to the squad that went down to Blak Blad 28-0. Thomas Okidia will get to start for the first time this season replacing Bevon Mutuma at prop.

There will be two matches on the cards when the Women’s Kenya Cup enters the second round on Saturday.

Mwamba take on Ruck It in the day’s early kick-off at the RFUEA ground before Northern Suburbs take on Yamanashi Impala Saracens in the second clash at 1.00pm at the Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi.

The third fixture originally planned between Nakuru and Homeboyz has been postponed.

Mwamba began their campaign with a 38-13 win over Nakuru on Saturday 27 November while Ruck It started on a losing note, going down 98-7 to Yamanashi Impala Saracens on the same date.

Kenya Cup (Men) fourth round fixtures

Mwamba v KCB (Impala Club) 1pm

Impala Saracens v Kabras Sugar (Impala Club) 3pm

Kenya Harlequin v Homeboyz (RFUEA) 3pm

Nondescripts v Strathmore Leos (Ngong Racecourse) 3pm

Nakuru v Blak Blad (Nakuru Athletic Club) 3pm

Masinde Muliro v Menengai Oilers (MMUST) 3pm

Kenya Cup (Women)

Mwamba v Ruck It (RFUEA) 1pm

Northern Suburbs v Yamanashi Impala Saracens (1pm) Ngong Racecourse.