KCB hold on for sweet win as Strathmore pile more pressure on Quins in Kenya Cup rugby fixtures

KCB's Oliver Mangeni (centre) forces his way past JKUATs players during their Christie Sevens at KRU Grounds on 6-09-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO.

Kenya Commercial Bank maintained their Kenya Cup unbeaten run with a 41-5 drubbing of Homeboyz at the Ruaraka grounds yesterday afternoon.

The Bankers did not take any chance and were the dominant side in a hotly contested match that nearly degenerated into fist fights at several instances of the game. Head Coach Curtis Olago dismissed the altercations saying it was ‘only brotherly love in a physical sport’.
The former Nondies player added that the two teams are well conversant with each other hence, there was bound to be a bit of friction between the teams. “We are glad to have the victory, because at this juncture of the season all games are very hard and all victories need to be celebrated, “ he explained.

“We take every game as it comes and avoid getting distracted by looking at factors that are beyond our control,” he said. In the first game of the day, Strathmore continued to pile misery on Kenya Harlequin, with a hard fought 31-15 victory. According to Strathmore’s head coach Mitch Ocholla, it was not an accurate reflection of the game, as Quins made them fight for the victory.
“I think Quins intended to make our life difficult in the break down and I think they achieved their mission,” he said. “We had tough opposition in the set pieces as well and I think what separated the two sides was basically, who utilised their chances,” he added.

Strathmore finished with 13 men in an issue that Ocholla claims was somehow harsh. The former sevens tactician was particularly vexed by the red card to his fly half Kenny Andola, who was sent off for punching a Quins player.

Ocholla went on to explain that he was proud of his boys for overcoming the odds, “It was not an easy feat, but the boys were determined and pulled of a vital victory in our quest for the semifinals.”

Ocholla went on to explain that they were not particularly concerned with qualifying for the semis in top spot. “It does not really matter whether you were fourth or first when it gets to the semi finals,” he explained. “The important thing is to make it to the semi final and to win your game,” he added.

In the other fixtures of the day, Impala beat Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad 68-7, while Western Bulls defeated Mombasa RFC 84-0 in Kakamega.