No mean task: Strathmore seek to firm league leadership against Mean Machine

Cliff Okoth of strathmore University in action against Blak Blad during their Kenya cup rugby match at University of nairobi grounds on 15-11-2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

Strathmore will get a chance to firm their grip at the top of the Kenya Cup as they take their battle to the doorsteps of Mean Machine this weekend.

Strathmore play University of Nairobi students side at the Impala grounds under the floodlights tonight.

Should Strathmore win with a bonus, they will go five points ahead of second placed Kenya Harlequins, who play their game tomorrow at the RFUEA Grounds. Such a gap is likely to put early pressure on their rivals.

Strathmore head coach Mitch Ocholla has insisted that the team will stay calm and that is he is well aware that it will not be as easy to tame their opponents as it appears on paper.

Speaking after their victory over Kenyatta University's Blak Blad last weekend at the University of Nairobi grounds, Ocholla said they had to work hard for the victory and he expect the same in their game against Mean Machine.

"The Kenya Cup will definitely be a lot more competitive this season," he said. "No team will let you take points off them easily."

Ocholla was referring to the fact that apart from their tough encounter against Blak Blad, a team like Kabras, which was recently promoted to the Kenya Cup, showed their prowess to deny defending champions Nakuru RFC and the runners-up Kenya Commercial Bank, bonus points from their fixtures.

The coach noted that even though Mean Machine have already lost their first two games of the season against Homeboyz and Kenya Harlequin, it does not necessarily translate to automatic victory for them.

"We will take no team for granted and our aim will always remain to win every game in order to claim maximum points," he added.

Strathmore are top of the league after beating Mombasa RFC and Kenyatta University's Blak Blad with convincing bonus point and if they register a third bonus point win, they will solidify their position at the top given that Kenya Harlequins have a much tougher fixture against Impala RFC at the RFUEA grounds on Saturday.

All the other teams in the league play on Saturday, with Mwamba taking on Nondies, KCB playing Blak Blad, Homeboyz playing Western Bulls, Kabras hosting Catholic University and Nakuru meeting Mombasa RFC at their Nakuru Athletics Club grounds.

All these matches will be played alongside the Eric Shirley Shield and the Nationwide League.