Kenya Cup playoffs preview: Blad stand in the way of Oilers as Quins tackle Nondies

The race for a Kenya Cup semifinal slot is set to go down the wire on Saturday, March 16 in two different venues.

Nakuru-based Menengai Oilers will welcome Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad to the Nakuru Showground while Kenya Harlequins host Nondies RFC at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.

All matches will kick off at 4:00 pm.

Oilers vs Blak Blad head-to-head record

This will be the seventh meeting between these two sides. Out of the previous six meetings, the Oilers have outshined the students in four matches, while the latter have won once. They have shared spoils once.

The Oilers have amassed a total of 119 points over the six meetings. Their opponents on the other hand have managed 76 points in their previous meetings.

The last time they met was earlier in the season when Blak Blad narrowly lost 23-19.

Menengai Oilers 23-19 Blak Blad

Blak Blad 17-16 Menengai Oilers

Menengai Oilers 19-0 Blak Blad

Blak Blad 12-12 Menengai Oilers

Blakblad 15 -25 Menengai Oilers

Blak Blad 13-24 Menengai Oilers

Oilers’ Form

The first Gibson Weru’s charges were set to feature in the playoffs was in 2020, their second season in the top tier. The season was however canceled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When normalcy returned, and the league resumed, the playoffs were temporarily scrapped, with only the top four sides advancing directly to the semis. That saw the Oilers feature in the semis for three consecutive seasons.

The playoffs would then be introduced at the start of the 2023/24 season, and with their third-place finish, they did not book a direct semi-final slot.

If they win this tough encounter, this will be their fourth time in the semifinal.

They head into this match after finishing third on the league table. Out of the 11 matches they played this season, the Oilers registered nine wins and two losses to Kenya Harlequins and log leaders Kabras RFC.

This season, they scored 332 points and conceded 185.

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Blak Blad Form

Blak Blad RFC on the other hand will be making their maiden playoff appearance. They will be eager to make it count by outclassing the Oilers and booking a semifinal slot.

The students managed to secure four wins and a draw in the campaign.

Among the teams in the knockout phase, Blad scored the fewest points with 178, and they conceded 197, making them the side that conceded the second-most points among the top six after Nondies.

"We agreed to make every second count in the 80mins and to be efficient and effective in executing every detail on attack and defense," Blak Blad hrad coach head coach Bernard Rotich told Mozzart Sport on Friday. "What we insist on is just to play for each other throughout. This is our first ever playoffs since the inception of the club. I would love to see us progress to the next stage but it all comes down to what we do every second of the match.”

Kenya Harlequins vs Nondies RFC

Both teams will be out to claim the Ngong Road bragging rights and book a semifinal spot. The winner of this match will see off log leaders Kabras RFC.

For the Quins, apart from the semifinal spot, they will be on a revenge mission. They suffered a 21-13 defeat in the hands of Nondies during the final regular league match and will be keen to avenge.

Out of the 11 matches played this season, the Quins have won seven, with four losses on the card. They will be looking to showcase their fighting spirit to emerge as the winners.

Their opponents Nondies will be out to extend their winning streak over them. Nondies who were promoted to the Kenya Cup in the 2023/24 season after a season in the championship league will be looking to sparkle.

They have a similar record as Quins; seven wins and four losses making the playoff match even more interesting.