Rugby Season Review

The rugby season is ultimately down to the wire but I'm a little concerned about everything this season. With three more games to the playoffs the table looks all but odd, things really don't add up until you take a keen look.Big guns like Harlequins, Nondies and Impala remain firmly in mid table, so what really happened to these giants? I wouldn't want to imagine that their dominance during their heydays is long gone. Infact these three sides have the bragging rights of success having bagged the championship not once and not twice. They still remain Kenya's most decorated and fancied rugby clubs. Being the biggest most loyal fan of the Quins, I can only sit back with optimism and hope that all will go well next season but it's evident we won't make it to the the play-offs which in itself is quite sickening. Nondescripts have had a torrid season as well, losing most of their matches to more established sides and worst of all to Western Bulls which has been a real threat to juggernauts such as Mwamba. Homeboyz have been rather inconsistent this season winning and losing in equal measure. Infact pundits argue that one can never be quite sure against this side. They ended Strathmore's unbeaten run in a dramatic showdown it seems the leos need to go back to the drawing board in order to beat them. The Bulls have had a stellar run, perhaps the best ever since their maiden debut in the championship , they have beaten top sides like Nondescripts, Mwamba and Harlequins but were unsuccessful in their campaign against their arch rivals Kabras with whom they bitterly contest the Kakamega derby. They have also lost a handful of matches which explains why they are not any close to the top four. Well, it's Impala which has felt the greatest heat, having lost over half of their matches and will be seeking to consolidate points from easier fixtures. One might wonder why this prolific club has had such a miserable season, well I too have more questions than answers regarding this. At the bottom of the table lies university outfits Mean Machine, Black Blad, The monks and lastly Mombasa. This was very much anticipated going by the records. Rookies Catholic university alias the Monks are in a pensive mood having had a baptism of fire, going down in all their matches but claiming Mombasa scalp. It seems when everything was working out well in top flight rugby, their success came crumbling down, Some people have branded them as donors due to the large number of points they have conceded.They were promoted to the main league last year having reached the nationwide league finals but are now caught up in the relegation quicksand. It appears they have taken a plunge and stand no chance of survival, and that is the fate of Mombasa rfc who hav'nt claimed a single victory and they too are in a stalemate. UON'S Mean Machine and Kenyatta University side Black Blad have mastered the art of survival and are safe from the tentacles of  relegation (as for now) and it looks as though they'll hang on until next season. The top of the table is a neck to neck tussle and whoever strays but a little risks losing the hotly contested playoffs. To me this is by far the most fascinating scenario leave alone survival for relegation. The pursuit is for glory and dominance and the very best remains perched atop. I have infact observed three different teams take the driving seat at different times, first it was the Strathmore Leos who had a decent run until homboyz came huffing and puffing, lets just say they always lose that match. Then came the defending champions Nakuru popularly known as wanyore who dethroned the students or leos not sure what to call them, whichever tickles your fancy. They've recently had high profile matches against Homeboyz and Mwamba but have managed to squeeze narrow wins, much to the delight of the other favourites KCB, who are the real lions forget the leos. KCB climbed to the summit recently and look pretty much cosy up there for the remainder of the season. The lions have had a spectacular season not going down a single match analogous to Wanyore who are yet to lose too. The top of the bill match will be aganst these two sides who are yet to clash, it bears a very unpredictable outcome though my money is on the lions. Many still resonate well with the sevens series title they claimed recently, i think they still have the same prospects for 15s rugby. Kabras rfc is no novice, as most people had imagined, the message is clear as they have managed to squeeze their way into the top four and are looking foward for the playoffs. This club is out to establish itself among the elites and have got all it takes to do so. Kabras has registered impressive wins and have lost narrowly to collosal sides such as The bankers and Nakuru. Now there's a tall order for them as they are yet to play Homeboyz, Harlequins and Strathmore,  They'll have to prove their mettle in these fixtures if they wish to keep their playoff hopes alive. Having worked with the team and being an associate, i would only wish the team makes it through. So much time and finances has been invested in this new club, reknowned barrister Ray Olendo has been at the helm and has been working tirelessly hard with the assistance of Anthony Ogot and veteran scrumhalf Edwin Achayo. It will indeed be a big breakthrough if Kabras wins the championship, that might sound far fetched to skeptics but there is a possibility, and sometimes  all that is needed is a bit of extra work. The recent slip against Mwamba left the club treading on thin ice having only a 3 point advantage over Mwamba who by comparison have relatively easy fixtures. The potency and tenacity of the team unfolded during the recently concluded sevens series in which hey had a terrific performance. The team has a host of seasoned players such as Nick Baraza, Polycap Luaki, Edwin Achayo, Ken Isindu among others. The nationwide league has become so, competitive USIU, Masaku and TUK are favourites within Nairobi, while Kisumu rfc and Bungoma Sharks have all but sealed the top spots in Western region this was after Kings of Rugby tourney runners up Masinde Muliro University failed to honour several matches. In Rift Valley Egerton and UOE have the upper hand. Thika RFC and Stomers are expected to represent Central and Coast respectively. This season will no doubt go into the records as one of the best in Kenyan rugby. Meanwhile KRU seeks to bolster the sevens team and has recalled top players for the next two legs in the IRB sevens series they include the maestro himself Collins Injera, Billy 'the kid' Odhiambo, philip Wanjala, Felix Ayange, Eden Agero among others. We hope the boys will display exemplary standards of proffesionalism and restore the reputation for which we are known. Paul Treu and James Mwangi threw in the towel this season having accomplished themselves as real team players and we wish them well in their endeavours. I'm optimistic with this team and you best believe they'll will make it straight into cup quarters. The effort invested by the union will certainly materialise, we wish to see our pride restored. Twende game!! Game inakuneed!!