Kenya Harlequins Progress in the Kenya Cup

By Herbert Mwachiro
July 12 2005

Quins first team did a Houdini against Mwamba this past weekend. If there was ever a game we surely did not deserve to win then this was surely it. However Lady Luck was the 16th player for a Quins side that lacked creativity from the backs.

The forwards had an excellent game especially one or two of the rookies in the squad. It was from number 10 onwards that the team failed to click. Apart from Sidney Ashioya's lone ranger efforts, the rest were a pale shadow of themselves. Allan Makaka did not deserve to wear a Quins shirt after his previous nights excesses.

Mwamba were 10 - 0 in ten minutes and looked like they were finally going to put the Quins ghost away. Victory by the black shirts has been a myth for almost a while now with only one win for them against Quins during the last decade. This time they meant business and came charged fully loaded. Quins on the other hand patched up a side that could have drawn nil nil with the current British Lions. The reserve bench remained reserved. Tito Oduk had a miserable afternoon with the boot and distributed missed kicks free of charge (foc) like the Oxfam Charity organisation does meals for the needy. For charity to Mwamba he tops the bill. A try by Mogere brought us back into the game and for long periods it looked like the elusive winning try was never going to come. A kick, chase and lucky bounce and error by the Mwamba full back saw Ashioya pounce on the ball to score the unlikeliest of try's and the luckiest of victories for Quins. A win is a win and we'll take it any how it comes.

The second team on the other hand had a brilliant game that saw them finish off the neighbour we love to hate Impala seconds by a score of 22-15. These young men put up a brilliant show that had the crowd cheering from beginning to end. They are still on course for a semi final spot after securing a win plus a bonus. Well done lads and special mention to fly half Chris.

This coming weeks sees Quins face off with Mean Machine at the varsity lads home ground. Lets be there to support the side as we are still perched on top of the log. Four more games (Machine, Nakuru, Impala and KCB) to go and each one is a final of its own. Nobody is going to give Quins an easy time to the title. Focus, commitment and support as we march towards the final leg.

Congrats to Saint Mary's for retaining the Prescott League Cup. Saints are the current National 7's, Blackrock and East Africa Schools Champions as well.

Many thanks to Herbert Mwachiro for letting us run this story and if anyone is going to Kenya for their summer holidays why not pop in and see if there is a game on (Kenya Harlequins RFC, Ngong Road, Nairobi, Kenya).