Nakuru face Menengai Oilers in Nax Vegas derby in Kenya Cup action

John Mbugua (center) Top Fry Nakuru RFC battles with Menengai Oilers players during the Kenya Cup Match played at Nakuru Athletics Club two years ago.[Kipsang Joseph,Standard]

Former champions Nakuru RFC take on next-door neighbours Menengai Oilers in the eighth Nax Vegas derby at Nakuru Athletic Club (NAC) on Saturday as they chase Kenya Cup glory.

The two teams have never won any two consecutive derby matches since Oilers were admitted in the top flight rugby league in 2017.

Matches pitting the two teams have always been competitive whether at home or away.

When the two teams met last in the league tie on February 26, 2022 at NAC, Nakuru beat Oilers 13-8.

Oilers coach Gibson Weru said the derbies are always particularly tough when playing away from home.

“When before a hostile crowd, the match is always tough because of emotions but I urge my boys to maintain calmness if we are beat our opponents,” he told Standard Sports.

He said for them to come out victorious, his charges must be composed.

Nakuru RFC team manager Hillary Kisangi said they are ready for the match having undergone rigorous training sessions and will not disappoint their fans.

“It’s a tough match whenever we have the derby but be assured we’ll not disappoint our fans at the end of it,” he said.

Backrow Amos Obando is expected to skipper the team to victory according to Kisangi.

In the first ever Kenya Cup League derby of the two clubs on February 16, 2019 at Nakuru Athletic Club, Nakuru defeated Oilers 46-37.

In the return match on October 26, 2019 at ASK Nakuru Showground, Oilers won 31-6.

In the third derby on January 25, 2020 at NAC, Nakuru dismissed Oilers 19-17 and in the return match on March 13, 2021 at ASK Showground, Oilers won 21-20.

Last year on February 26 that was the fifth derby as a league tie, Nakuru defeated Oilers 13-8 at NAC.

And in the 2022/2023 Kenya Cup League season, Oilers dismissed Nakuru 25-18.

RESULTS OF ALL NAKURU RUGBY DERBIES.

1. February 16, 2019/Kenya Cup League at Nakuru Athletic Club (NAC) - Nakuru RFC 46 Menengai Oilers 37.
2.    October 26,2019 at ASK Nakuru Showground – Menengai Oilers 31 Nakuru RFC 6.
3. January 25,2020 at NAC, Nakuru RFC 19 Menengai Oilers 17.
4. March 13, 2021 at ASK Showground – Menengai Oilers 21 Nakuru RFC 20.
5. February 26, 2022 at NAC- Nakuru RFC 13 Menengai Oilers 8.
6. January 7, 2023 at ASK Nakuru Showground – Oilers  25 Nakuru RFC 18.