Stoic Kabras defence credited for win against Quins

Kabaras Rugby Football Club team players training before playing Menengai Oilers Rugby team players during Kenya cup match played on January 12, 2019 at Kakamega show ground. BY BENJAMIN SAKWA

Kabras Sugar head coach Henly Du Plessis was impressed with his team’s defensive play following their 21-3 win against Kenya Harlequin in a Kenya Cup round nine match at the RFUEA grounds over the weekend.

A Lyle Asiligwa penalty saw the sugar millers trail 3-0 inside the opening five minutes before George Nyambua’s converted try supplemented Philip Wokorach’s double to hand Kabras their ninth win in a row.

“We proved that with our defensive system, we can concede less points.That is an area we have been working on since the season started,” Du Plessis said.

However, it was a scrappy win for the Kakamega-based side, that seemed to struggle on line-outs and only capitalised on Quins’ mistakes.

“Hats off to Quins for the good game. I am pleased with the win although it was not among our best matches. We failed to win possession from set pieces especially line-outs and that forced us to defend more,” said Du Plessis.

Having failed to bag a bonus point, Kabras’ lead at the top of the standings was reduced to four points by their closest challengers KCB, who thrashed Strathmore Leos 53-8 in Madaraka.

For Quins coach Charles Cardovillis, their indecisiveness in the final third let them down. The tactician was also critical of his backs, who he said lacked consistency.

“Too many mistakes from our end and a team of Kabras’ quality will always punish any errors,” Cardovillis said.

Meanwhile, Mwamba put up a brilliant second half display to beat Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad 26-13, in a match the students were undone by schoolboy errors.

“We had to make some tactical substitutions and after that we started playing with more intent. I think the boys had underestimated Blak Blad and that could be the reason why we were slow off the blocks,” Mwamba coach Kevin Wambua said.

At the Nakuru Showground, Impala Saracens registered their first win of the year following a 24-22 triumph against Menengai Oilers.

It was a much needed result for the former champions who had lost four matches on the trot before their meeting with Oilers.

In other matches, Homeboyz beat struggling Mean Machine 22-13 as Nondescripts overpowered their hosts Nakuru RFC.