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The Nairobian

Nakuru RFC wary of Dala Sevens challengers

Rugby

By Clement Wekulo | Aug 01, 2019

**Barry Otieno (left) of Homeboyz RFC battles for the ball with Nondes player during the Great Rift 10 Aside at Nakuru Athletes Club on April 20, 2019.** [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

His team might be seeded top in pool C of next weekend’s Dala Sevens in Kisumu but Nakuru RFC coach Mitch Ocholla believes they are not guaranteed a place in the Main Cup quarter-finals.

In what will be the third leg of the National Sevens Circuit, Ocholla’s men, bronze medalists at the Kabeberi Sevens in Meru last weekend, have been drawn alongside Kenya’s oldest rugby club Nondescripts, University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine and returnees Kabras Sugar, who pulled out of the Kabeberi event due to what they termed as financial constraints. The sugar millers are set to feature at the Dala tournament as an invited side.

“There is never an easy pool in any competition. Kabras struggled at the Kakamega Sevens, missed Kabeberi and I know they might be a much stronger side in Kisumu. Nondies and Machine are equally solid teams and we expect a tough challenge from them,” Ocholla told Standard Sports after the Dala Sevens draw was made.

With two legs played, Nakuru, 2015 Circuit winners, are fourth in the overall standings with 32 points having narrowly missed a podium finish in Kakamega before going one better at Kabeberi Sevens. And with seven points separating them with log leaders Mwamba RFC, Ocholla is optimistic that they are genuine title contenders.

“This year’s Circuit is very competitive and there’s no certainty that particular teams are outright favourites,” Ocholla said while giving an example of their cross-town neighbours Menengai Oilers, who had an underwhelming outing in the season-opening Kakamega Sevens before claiming silver in Meru.

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“Competition is very good from the bottom to the top and it’s anyone’s day depending on how prepared you are; So far I like what I am seeing,” the former Strathmore Leos coach said.

Ocholla’s Kabras Sugar counterpart Henly Du Plessis is equally wary of the threat posed by their pool C opponents. Du Plessis’ men managed only two wins at their home tournament, Kakamega Sevens, eventually settling for a paltry 5 points.

“Nakuru have been very consistent and Nondies can’t be underestimated. Machine are exposed to a lot of university tournaments and that has been of help to them in the Circuit,” Du Plessis said.

Kabras’ absence at the Kabeberi Sevens proved costly as the Kakamega outfit dropped to 14th position on the standings.

“Missing Kabeberi gave us time to focus, blend a new team and reflect on our weak areas. We’ll be better than we were at Kakamega Sevens,” said Du Plessis.

Dala Sevens pools

Pool A: Mwamba, Northern Suburbs, Impala Saracens, Kisumu RFC

Pool B: Oilers, MMUST, Strathmore, Western Bulls

Pool C: Nakuru RFC, Nondescripts, Mean Machine, Kabras

Pool D: KCB, Homeboyz, Blak Blad, Vihiga Granites