Bamburi Rugby Super Series fixtures on Saturday

Bamburi Rugby Super Series resumes on Saturday, a weekend when semi final berths are expected to be secured and teams eliminated.

There are four fixtures on the cards, two at a changed venue in Nairobi and one each in Mumias and Kampala, Uganda.

Nairobi’s fixtures take place at the Jamhuri Park, a move that has been necessitated by the deterioration of the playing surface at the host venue, the RFUEA Grounds, due to heavy rains.

The fixture in Mumias takes place at the Mumias Sports Complex while Kampala’s at the Kampala RUFC grounds.

We get down to the weekend preview.

BRSS Saturday May 12, 2012.
 
POOL A: SDV TRANSAMI CHEETAHS v COASTAL BULLS
2.00pm, JAMHURI PARK
LIVE ON DSTV
 
The SDV Transami Cheetahs will be up against the visiting Coastal Bulls in the 2.00pm kick off. The Cheetahs left it late against the Nguvu Sharks last weekend, a try at the death sealing an 11-7 win.

Captain Duncan Ekasi, speaking after the match, observed that his side’s mental strength gave them the belief to overturn the 3-7 and 6-7 deficits that they faced last weekend and he will surely rally his troops to put in another strong performance as they seek to book their semi final berth with a game to spare.

Key for the Cheetahs will be big Lawi Buyachi, the Kenya number eight who has been in imperious form, scoring three tries in his last three outings for franchise and country.

He will definitely be a handful for the Coastal Bulls backrow. Kenya winger Vincent Mose and Oscar Ayodi will also be players to watch out for on the Cheetahs side.

The Bulls started their campaign with a 6-45 home loss to the Lions at the Mombasa Sports Club. It is interesting to note that they camped in their opponents’ half for the better part of the opening half, unable to translate possession into points.

They actually took the game to the Lions, particularly in the forwards, and were only let down by fly half Steve Matioli who had an off day. Anyway, back to the present, or the foreseeable future, the Bulls face the Cheetahs in their first ever BRSS match outside their home venue and this presents them with a chance to get their campaign back on track. With players like Matioli who has the ability to unlock any defence when he shows up for the party, Malik Ndemi and Paul Oimbo in their ranks, the Bulls are in it to win it.
 
POOL A: LIONS v NGUVU SHARKS
4.00pm, JAMHURI PARK
LIVE ON DSTV
 
After their 45-6 away win over the Coastal Bulls on match day one, the Lions, champions in 2008, renew their rivalry with the Nguvu Sharks who beat them 32-25, a result that contributed to the Lions failure to reach the semi finals for the first time in their history.

The Lions, coached by Fijian Meli Tuni Wainibuli, know the task ahead of them, sealing a win against the Sharks, which would see them with a foot in the semis. With the likes of Collins Injera, Oliver Mang’eni, Peter Mutai, Dan Sikuta and Dennis Mwanja in their ranks, they will surely fancy their chances.

Paul Odera’s Nguvu Sharks were unlucky to fall 7-11 to the Cheetahs at the RFUEA on match day one, this after leading for close to seventy-three minutes.

They must bounce back with victory against the Lions as another loss will surely see the 2011 semi finals bow out with a match to spare. Kenya fly half Isaac Adimo, captaining the Sharks, observed that his side were unlucky to lose to the Cheetahs but noted that the result was cast in stone and their focus was fully on the next match against the Lions.

Tony Onyango, who scored on his Kenya debut during the 12-0 win over Uganda, was voted man of the match against the Cheetahs and will be one of the Sharks’ players to watch on the day. Others include Kenny Andola and Edwin Salamba, who scored the only try against the Cheetahs.
 
POOL B: MUMIAS SUGAR BUFFALOES v KCB VICTORIA
4.00pm, MUMIAS SPORTS COMPLEX

Former Kenya prop Arthur Shikwe’s Mumias Sugar Buffaloes head into this fixture with their heads held high. They gave Dimension Data Rwenzori the jitters even though their late rally did not secure a win in Kampala as they lost 43-31 to their hosts.

Scoring four tries on the road has surely given the Buffaloes hope. They host KCB Victoria at the Mumias Sports Complex in Mumias, knowing that only a win will see them stay in contention for a semi final berth.

With hat trick hero Bramwel Shikanda in their ranks and Jaycox Mwavali in their ranks, the Buffaloes will be out to make use of their home ground advantage and eliminate the Ugandans from the competition.
KCB Victoria, one of two Ugandan sides taking part in the BRSS hit the road once more, making the sortie to Mumias, this coming off their 46-9 defeat at the hands of defending champions, UAP Rhinos in Nairobi last weekend.

This match is do or die for the Ugandans, they too must win to stay in contention. With mercurial captain Faisal Gamma and teenager Philip Wokorach in their ranks, Victoria too cannot be written off. Fans in Mumias will be in for a real rugby treat.

POOL B: DIMENSION DATA RWENZORI v UAP RHINOS
430pm, KAMPALA RUFC GROUNDS

Dimension Data Rwenzori come head to head with defending champions UAP Rhinos in a match that will determine who goes top of pool B and effectively books themselves a semi final berth.

Rwenzori ran off with a 43-31 win over the Buffaloes, getting this result after surviving a late rally from the visitors. They will need to be in this tie against the Rhinos for the entire eighty minutes. Steve Ogwete, Anthony Kinene and Justin Kimono who has six tries in six career BRSS appearances will be key for the home side.

The UAP Rhinos were authoritative in their 46-9 win over KCB Victoria on an atrocious RFUEA pitch, what can they do on the better turf at the Kampala RUFC grounds? A win secures a semi final berth for the five time winners of the event and they head into Kampala having never lost to Rwenzori in a BRSS encounter. Captain Sammy Warui said his team is maintaining its focus as they take every game at a time. Coach Eric Situma will rely on Eden Agero, Brian Nyikuli and Dennis Muhanji to swing the game his way. Kampala fans will be in for an entertaining match.
 
Collated Fixtures
Saturday May 12, 2012
 
SDV Transami Cheetahs v Coastal Bulls
2.00pm, Jamhuri Park, LIVE ON DSTV
Lions v Nguvu Sharks
4.00pm, Jamhuri Park, LIVE ON DSTV
 
Mumias Sugar Buffaloes v KCB Victoria
4.00pm Mumias Sports Complex
 
Dimension Data Rwenzori v UAP Rhinos
4.30pm, Kampala RUFC Grounds