Simbas out to claim victory against Goshawks in Currie Cup Challenge

Kenya Simbas and the Zimbabwe Goshawks renew their rivalry in the Currie Cup Mzansi Challenge when they face off at the Nakuru Athletic Club on Saturday 20 May.

This will be the second ever Currie Cup clash between the two sides, the first one ending in a 22-21 victory to the Goshawks on 23 April 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.

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In their first encounter, Simbas trailed 0-17, Goshawks going ahead through converted tries from Biselele Tshamala and Taku Chieza as well as a Hilton Mudariki penalty before they responded with two penalties from Jone Kubu who also converted Derrick Ashiundu’s try to bring the score to 17-13 before a pushover try gave the Goshawks a 22-13.

Another Kubu penalty and an unconverted Elkeans Musonye try brought the scores to 22-21, a thrilling game of rugby on the day.

Simbas head to the clash placed eighth on the log with seven points off one win and five losses while the Goshawks are bottom of the pile on three points, winless in their six outings to date.

Jerome Paarwater side’s solitary victory in the 2023 Currie Cup First Division came on 6 May when they managed to beat Border Bulldogs 30-26. In their latest encounter, the East Africans lost 35-28 to Windhoek Draught Welwitschias of Namibia. 

The side will look to defend their home tuff and Kenya’s performance at Nakuru Athletic Club seeing as the facility played host to the Victoria Cup fixture between Kenya and Zimbabwe on 7 September 2019, a match that ended 36-14 in favour of the hosts.

The side is banking on the support of the very partisan and vociferous crowd at the club which incidentally also plays host to the Great Rift Tens that is marking a return after a Covid-19 enforced hiatus.