Focus turns to Kenya Cup relegation dogfight

Mwamba RFC's Elvin Okoth (left) and Mohamed Omollo of Homeboyz in a past Kenya Cup match at RFUEA Grounds. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

As the Kenya Cup enters the penultimate, the focus is on the bottom of the standings where the relegation specter looms over several teams.

This weekend's fixtures promise high tension and gripping rugby as clubs fight tooth and nail to retain their place in the country's premier rugby league.

Last weekend's action concluded with some seismic results that have set the stage for a nail-biting tenth round.

Perhaps the most eye-catching of these results was the Homeboyz's defeat, leaving them anchored to the bottom of the table with just two points. They face a stern test against Mwamba, who are themselves not entirely safe, sitting joint seventh with 19 points.

Homeboyz's plight is the talk of the league, having failed to secure a win in nine attempts. The pressure is at a boiling point, and their match against Mwamba is more than a game; it's a final lifeline.

Mwamba, buoyed by their narrow victory over Kisumu, are looking to pull away from the danger zone and will not give any quarters to the desperate Homeboyz.

The Catholic Monks, second from the bottom with six points, have a mountain to climb as they face the Strathmore Leos. While the Leos are comfortably mid-table, they too cannot afford complacency, with only a nine-point cushion separating them from the relegation zone.

Nakuru and Kisumu, both embroiled in the relegation mix, have challenging fixtures against Nondescripts and Kenya Harlequin, respectively.

Nakuru, with a recent win under their belt, will be looking to translate that momentum into a victory that could steer them clear of immediate danger.

Kisumu, however, after a narrow defeat to Mwamba, faces a stiffer challenge against a Kenya Harlequin side that is looking to cement their top-four status and qualify for the playoffs.

At the summit, Kabras Sugar and KCB RFC, both undefeated, continue their own battle for supremacy, but all eyes this weekend will be fixed on the teams scrambling at the other end of the table.

Kabras travel to face Blak Blad while KCB will be in Nakuru to play Menengai Oilers.

The bankers, who are unbeaten this season, secured a place in the semi-finals after seeing off Kenya Harlequin 45-15 last weekend. Currently, the team is sitting second on the log with 44 points.

"Our objective is to have momentum going into the semis that means we have to win our remaining two fixtures in the league phase of the season. Considering the Oilers lost their last fixture, they will be looking to bounce back to winning ways therefore, we must approach this match with a lot of caution," said KCB head coach Curtis Olago.

KCB will travel to Kakamega on March 9 for another nerve-wracking encounter against Kabras Sugar in a top of the table clash.

The question on every rugby fan's lips is who will have the nerve to survive the drop. With so much at stake, expect heroic tackles, fierce scrums, and heart-stopping rugby as the teams in the danger zone battle to avoid the chop.