Kenya Cup Review: Kabras go top, MMUST all but relegated as relegation drama awaits

Kenya Cup defending champions Kabras Sugar RFC might have provided one of the most riveting stories of the weekend when they ended KCB’s unbeaten streak this season to go top of the standings and gain control of their own fate in their title defense, but matchday 10 provided a lot more to ponder in the relegation battle heading into the last fixture of the regular campaign.

Following the conclusion of the penultimate matches, upto five teams were left needing to wait until the final fixture to determine whether they would be staying in the top flight or having to drop down to the second tier. Here is a review of everything you need to know.

Kabras silence KCB to remain only unbeaten side in the league

The sugar millers managed to answer every question thrown their way on Saturday as they recorded a 23-29 victory against hosts KCB to remain the only unbeaten side after ending the Bankers’ nine match winning streak.

Initially looking like a side that would crumble after allowing KCB to come down from 0-16 to 17-16, the Kakamega based side displayed incredible character to weather the storm as they swung the pendulum in their favour heading into the last game of the regular season.

Resilient Kabras Sugar end KCB's unbeaten streak, go top of Kenya Cup standings

Should the team win their season ending clash against Menengai Oilers, they will have the advantage of staging the Kenya Cup finale at home if they make it to the championship decider courtesy of finishing in first place in the regular season.

End of the road for Masinde Muliro

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) have all but confirmed that they will not be playing in the top flight next season following their 15-8 loss against Blak Blad on Saturday.

The team currently sit last on the log table on 9 points, five points adrift the safety places.

Despite even having the possibility of claiming all the five points in their last fixture of the season, the varsity side cannot go above Catholic Monks and Mean Machine, who are both on 14 points, considering that they lost their head to head matches.

Benjamin Ayimba legacy tournament lands two sponsors

This is following in the case of Kenya Harlequin and Impala Saracens in the 2021/2022 season where, despite Impala having a better point difference, H2H took precedence in determining who would be relegated.

Homeboyz, Mwamba, Monks, Machine with all to play for in last fixture

The above quartet will be hoping against hope that they will not be the side joining MMUST in the drop zone.

Ferdinand Omanyala: The stone that was once rejected but is now Kenya’s athletic cornerstone

Separated by only one point, unfavourable results from any team could end up proving to be the difference between Kenya Cup and Championship next season.

Blak Blad and Nakuru have secured their place in the top flight next season.

Matchday 11 Fixtures

Catholic Monks vs Nakuru

Homeboyz vs Blak Blad

Masinde Muliro vs Mwamba

Kenya Harlequin vs Strathmore Leos

Mean Machine vs KCB

Kabras Sugar vs Menengai Oilers