By BS MULAVI

Defending Kenya Cup champions Kenya Harlequin succumbed to their first defeat of the season going down 34-26 to Mwamba RFC.

Nondies RFC continued with their winless streak with a narrow 11-5 loss at the Nakuru RFC, while league leaders KCB continued to fly the bankers flag high drubbing Strathmore RFC 39-20.

Mean machine has failed to register any single point this season even after hosting Impala RFC at the University of Nairobi where the guests emerged the victors with a deserved 29-19 win.

The thought of Sidney Ashioya of Quins facing off with his sevens team mate Collins Injera of Mwamba was always going to be interesting.

Many expected that Ashioya knowing the potential of the IRB top try scorer he would be able to contain him, but this was not the case as the Mwamba winger run riot over the champions scoring a try and helping his sevens and club team mate Horace Otieno to score two of his own.

Victor Oduor who crossed over from Mwamba to Quins scored a try against his former club, which added to the tries scored by Vincent Ongera, Daniel Kiptoo and Allan Makaka.

The champions get a bonus point for scoring four tries even though they lost.

Nondies lost their third game in succession in the league to a very physical Nakuru side. This was the third time in the league that the white shirts gave away a half time lead.

Nondies were leading at the break 5-3 but a try by Martin Opondo and a penalty by Simon Wariuki was enough to salvage the game for the hosts.

The game was overshadowed by dubious calls by the referee and both sets of players and fans verbally expressed their displeasure.

In the long run it was the hosts who were able to keep their composure and whisk away with a slender 11-5 victory.

Nondies get their third bonus point of the season after losing with a margin of less than seven points.

At the University of Nairobi grounds the Impala forwards run amok over the hosts Mean Machine to win by a convincing 29-19 margin.

Dan Weku and Mathew Musalia both scored a brace.