KCB II dethrone Harlequin II as Mwamba Cup champions

By BS Mulavi

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) II in their seventh consecutive final dethroned Harlequin II as the Mwamba Cup champions with a 23-18 victory at the RFUEA grounds at the weekend.

The score line did little justice to the bankers who outplayed the hosts, but slackened towards the end of the game to concede a late try. KCB rightfully lifted the title after convincingly defeating Strathmore, Kisumu and Quins on the way to the final.

KCB, who got a pass to the quarters after reaching last year’s final, only seemed to struggle in their first Mwamba Cup game against Strathmore II whom they narrowly edged out 10-5. A week later they came back strongly to send a confident Kisumu side crashing out of the tournament with a 32-12 drubbing.

Kisumu were beaming with confidence after they had humiliated Mean Machine 46-3 a week earlier, but the bankers brought them down to earth and sent them packing back home. Even after the much-improved performance, coach Paul Murunga was edgy, claiming they were not firing from all fronts yet.

The bankers got extra motivation for the final when their first team were eliminated from the Enterprise Cup by Quins, thus making the Mwamba Cup top priority. It was the only Cup available for 15s rugby and they had a chance to avenge the Enterprise Cup loss.

Meant business

From the onset of the final, KCB meant business and by half time they were leading 15-8, courtesy of two tries from Benjamin Ojema and two penalties from Steve Matioli. The second half was no different with Anthony Ochino getting his name on the scoreboard.

Murunga was outspoken, claiming they had no option but to win the Mwamba Cup. "It feels great to win a trophy no matter how big or small it is. Quins came really hard at us, but we were sharper and punished them for the little mistakes they made," he said.

"We did not particularly defend well in the second half, but were focused enough to hold on to our lead and eventually scoop the trophy," Murunga said.

 

 

Read all about: KCB Harlequin Mwamba Cup RFUEA rugby

 

 

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