KCB show mettle in thrilling comeback win against spirited Mwamba as Kabras maintain unblemished run

Reigning Kenya Cup champions KCB once again proved they are still the team to beat this season as they weathered a spirited storm from 1983 champions Mwamba RFC in a rescheduled encounter played at the RFUEA Grounds on Saturday afternoon.

Trailing 23-12 just minutes into the second half after being largely on the backfoot through the entire first period, the Curtis Olago coached side cast their troubles away and scored twenty seven points in the second half to secure the 30-39 comeback win that saw them jump upto second place on the league standings.

While they managed to get the job done in the tie, a dogged performance from Mwamba certainly exposed their weaknesses and tested their resolve that at the end of the day came through as they secured a bonus point to go with their hard earned performance.

Separated by 17 points on the table from a Mwamba side that was in sixth position, the third placed Bankers had started like a side that would totally dominate everything from the word go.

Having named Shujaa stars Alvin 'Buffa' Otieno, who was making his debut since his move from Homeboyz, Levy Amunga and Vincent Onyala in the starting 15, the reigning champions got off to a dream start just a minute in as Jacob Ojee easily sliced through the Mwamba defense after a perfect lineout, Darwin Mukidza successfully converting for an early 0-7 lead.

Let down by the poor defending, Kulabu immediately hit back and in some style as they fought against the underdog tag placed against them prior to the match.

It all started with a perfect move from a scrum that ended with Brian Kivasia touching down for a corner post try that reduced the gap to two points following a missed conversion attempt.

Bouyed by the hitback, Mwamba pressed for more as they had KCB on the backfoot. Their efforts finally paid off when a clever linebreak caught the reigning champions flatfooted as Joel Inzuga broke away before squaring the ball to Kivasia who landed his brace and extended the scored to 12-7 after successfully converting.

With momentum on their side, Kulabu extended their lead to 15-7 after Kivasia converted a penalty following a KCB infringement.

Just before the break though, Ojee managed to reduce KCB's deficit to six points as he landed a corner post try to get the game to an 18-12 half time score following a missed conversion.

At the start of the second half, Kevin Wambua's Mwamba sent futher shivers down KCB's spine as Yayha Hussein landed a dogged try after some resolute attack to get the scores to 23-12.

It is from that point that KCB showed why they are the reigning champions as they started plotting their comeback.

Max Kangeri and Oscar Simiyu converted quick tries to take KCB back ahead to 23-24 after one missed and one converted conversion attempt.

Mukidza then managed to add onto KCB's lead as he spotted some space in the Mwamba defense which he utulized in touching down for the team's fourth try that Johnstone Olindi successfully converted to take the scores to 23-31.

Another unconverted try saw KCB open up a thirteen point lead but a penalty try helped Mwamba cut down the lead to 30-36 after Buffa stopped a sure try.

With Mwamba heaping pressure in the dying minutes of the game, the eight time champions finally just managed to stretch the game as Esau Otieno drilled in a penalty that saw out the thrilling 30-39 win.

Elsewhere Kabras made it eight bonus point wins out of eight matches as they condemned last placed Nondescript to yet another defeat following their 26-10 win at the Kakamega Showgrounds.