The Kenya Cup campaign is set for the knockout phase with playoff matches scheduled for this weekend in Nairobi and Nakuru.
One-time Kenya Cup finalists Menengai Oilers will host Blak Blad in a playoff match slated for Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Nakuru Showground.
Oilers-Blad in Kenya Cup
This marks the seventh meeting between these two sides, with the previous encounters being closely contested.
Menengao Oilers vs Nondies in a past match. PHOTO/Scrummage
In the previous six matches, Oilers have emerged victorious in four, one match ended in a draw, and Blad secured one win.
Oilers have consistently scored in each match in this fixture, accumulating 119 points over the six meetings. On the other hand, Blad have failed to score only once and managed to put 76 points past the Oilmen.
Their last encounter took place in Nakuru earlier this season, with Blad losing narrowly with a score of 23-19.
Head to head
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
Oilers were poised to feature in the playoffs for the first time in 2020, which was their second season in the Kenya Cup. However, the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
When the league resumed in 2021, playoffs were temporarily scrapped, with only the top four sides advancing directly to the semis. This resulted in the Oilers featuring in the semis for three consecutive seasons.
The playoffs were reintroduced at the start of the current season, and a third-place finish, the Nakuru-based side did not secure a direct semi-final place. They will now aim to make it four out of four in the semis but must first overcome Blak Blad, who have proven to be a formidable opponent.
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Oilers head into this match after finishing third on the league table. They suffered defeats in two matches this season against Kenya Harlequin and Kabras RFC. However, they managed a notable victory over KCB Rugby and concluded the season with a significant win against Catholic Monks to secure third place and a playoff berth.
This season, they boasted the third-best attack in the league, scoring 332 points (after Kabras and KCB), and conceded 185, making them the fourth-best defence in the league.
Blak Blad players in a past action. Photo Courtesy/Denis Acre-half
The side is set to be boosted by the return of Kenyan International John Okoth after Challenger Series duty but will miss some key players.
Blak Blad Form
Their opponents, Blak Blad, have not featured in the playoffs in recent times and will be eager to make history by upsetting Oilers to book a semifinal date against KCB Rugby.
The students managed to secure four wins and a draw in the campaign. They had impressive performances at home, including picking up a losing bonus point against Kabras RFC, who narrowly beat them 24-17.
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
