Oliver Mang’eni coached outfit Lions lead the Rugby Super Series log after picking a bonus point in their 29-7 win over Rhinos in the second of wet and muddy fixtures played out at the RFUEA grounds.
The Lions outfit comprises of players from Kenya Cup sides KCB, Blak Blad, and Mwamba, with additional talent from Championship sides JKUAT Cougars, South Coast Pirates, and USIU Maritals.
Rhinos coached by Paul Murunga consisted of players from Kenya Harlequins, Nondies and varsity sides Strathmore Leos. Daystar Falcons, Mean Machine and Mombasa are also part of the Franchise.
Lions top
Despite conditions being perfectly suited for Rhinos’ survival, it was the Lions who came out on top of the second Ruby Super Series match. Blak Blad duo of Givens Onyango and Lions co captain Obat Kuke tries gave the dominantly Thika road franchise Lions a comfartable lead early on. Obat, quickly becoming the boogeyman, first latched onto a pass from Opondo Emmanuel who had taken a quick penalty, before releasing Givens Oduor for the Lions’ first try in the Super Series after a decade.
An Elvis Namusasi penalty the extended the Lions’ lead to ten points before front rower Oscar Simiyu would make an outrageous break, quick service off the deck catching the Rhinos defence miles out for Obat to stroll in for the Lions’ second try.
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Rhinos failed to pick any meaningful possession as the first half wore on, Evin Asena struggling to piece together any constructive play for his midfield duo of Mustami and Charles Odhiambo, the wet conditions sabotaging any efforts at that.
The Lions would then miss an opportunity to extend their lead after Namusasi’s attempt at goal
Felix Ojoo then hit from the back of the scrums which remained uncontested thanks to the slippery surface, Namusasi adding the extras to give the Lions a 22-0 lead heading into the halftime break.
Lions second half
The Lions were quick out of the blocks, scoring their fourth try after Mwamba’s Eliakim Kichoi beat a defender to release Emmanuel Opondo who made a daring dash for the try line. Namusasi slotted the extra twos to make it 29-0 early in the second stanza.
Rhinos would then replace Ian Mabwa with Zollo, shifting Asena to scrumhalf hoping to turn fortunes in their favor, but the muddy conditions would make it hard for any team to score any points in the second half. They would manage one try late in the tie through eighth man and former blak Blad man Sheldon Kahi for a final 29-7 score.
