Rugby: Kabras Sugar ready to face KCB test as curtains fall on Kenya Cup regular season
Rugby
By
Washington Onyango
| Feb 25, 2022
Kabras Sugar are looking forward to testing themselves ahead of the playoffs when they travel to play defending champions KCB at KCB Sports Club on Saturday.
Kabras are unbeaten so far having won all their matches and leading the standings with a perfect 50 points heading into the season finale.
Unlike previous seasons, this year’s derby will have no impact on the log for the two top sides and will be played for bragging rights because the Kakamega based side is already assured of the top spot. Kabras are six points ahead of KCB.
The bankers are second on 44 points and even if they defeat the sugar millers with a bonus-point victory, they cannot overtake them, which means Kabras Sugar will host the final for the third consecutive time (2019, 2021, 2022).
Speaking to the Standard Sports, Kabras captain Dan Sikuta said he rates their season at nine over ten, saying their focus is to maintain their form.
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“Focus remains on our team culture and structure. We want to play basic rugby and continue grinding on our momentum and win league games before stepping into playoffs which will continue building our winning confidence,” said the Kenya Sevens players.
Kabras assistant coach Edwin Achayo on the other hand is happy with their performance this season which was totally built on inclusivity of youth and experience.
“Like any other season with regards to the high and lows. We have played considerably well though we always believe we can get better. We managed to blood in a lot on youngsters this season so we are happy about that. While not our most clinical in terms of points scored we are happy to have collected wins in all the matches.”
“It's KCB so there's always going to be a lot of hype around this fixture. However both teams have qualified for the playoffs already so it offers a chance to fine-tune a few things here and there before the semis,” explained Achayo.
This will be the fourteenth meeting between the two sides since they first clashed in 2014.
Overall, KCB have won 10 of these encounters while Kabras have won two. One match has ended in a draw.
Kabras Sugar v KCB Head to Head
Nov 8, 2014: KCB 13-3 Kabras Sugar (KCB Sports Club)
March 14, 2015: KCB 27-3 Kabras Sugar (Kenya Cup Final, RFUEA)
December 19, 2015: KCB 40-15 Kabras Sugar (Railway Club, Nairobi)
December 3, 2016: Kabras Sugar 15-15 KCB (Kakamega Showground)
January 28, 2017: KCB 22-17 Kabras Sugar (KCB Sports Club)
April 22, 2017: KCB 36-8 Kabras Sugar (Kenya Cup Final, KCB Sports Club)
February 24, 2018: KCB 41-12 Kabras Sugar (KCB Sports Club)
March 24, 2018: KCB 29-24 Kabras Sugar (Kenya Cup Final, KCB Sports Club)
February 23, 2019: KCB 44-20 Kabras Sugar (Impala Club)
May 18, 2019: Kabras Sugar 15-23 KCB (Kenya Cup Final, Kakamega)
Nov 29, 2019: KCB 6-19 Kabras Sugar (KCB Sports Club)
August 7, 2021: Kabras Sugar 30-23 KCB (Nandi Bears Club)
September 4, 2021: Kabras Sugar 25-28 KCB (Kenya Cup Final, Nandi Bears Club)