Rugby: Five clubs battle to survive Kenya Cup relegation : The standard Sports

As defending champions KCB clash with Kabras Sugar in the Kenya Cup top of the table affair, more focus will be at the bottom half table where it will be down to arithmetic with five teams battling to avoid relegation.

The curtains fall on the league phase of the 2021-22 Kenya Cup season with the focus on the lower end of the standings where the quest for top tier survival goes down to the wire.

This is a shift from recent seasons where the battle for the playoffs has hogged the headlines at this point of the season.

A quartet of former champions namely Kenya Harlequin, Resolution Impala Saracens, Nondescripts and Topfry Nakuru as well as former National Sevens Circuit champions Homeboyz and all have their necks on the line.

Quins, who have 17 points, followed by Nakuru (16), Homeboyz (15), Nondies (15) and Impala Saracens (12) must win their last matches to have hopes of remaining in the top-flight league.

Two teams will be relegated from the league upon completion of the regular season with the top four proceeding to the semi-final playoffs.

At Jamhuri Grounds, Homeboyz and Nondies will face off in a clash that will play a major role in the relegation battle as Impala Saracens host MMUST at Impala Club in another must-win game for the Gazelles.

A Homeboyz win would see the deejays garner 19 points, 20 if they register a bonus point. The script remains the same should 17-time champions Nondies triumph over Homeboyz.

A defeat will see the deejays on 15 points, 16 if they get a losing bonus, 17 if they get a losing bonus and score four tries in the process. This also applies to Nondies in the event that they lose.

Nakuru will welcome Oilers at Nakuru Athletics Club as Mwamba face Quins at RFUEA Grounds.

Nakuru are currently on 16 points and victory will raise their points tally to 20, 21 if they get that bonus point. 

 A loss without a bonus point would see Nakuru remain on 16 points, but should they lose by less than seven points and score four tries in the process, they could end the campaign on 18 points.

Saturday Kenya Cup Fixtures

Blak Blad v Strathmore Leos-KCB Sports Club, 1pm

KCB v Kabras Sugar-KCB Sports Club, 3pm

Impala Saracens v MMUST-Impala Club, 3pm

Homeboyz v Nondescripts-Jamhuri Park, 3pm

Mwamba v Kenya Harlequin-RFUEA, 3pm

Nakuru v Menengai Oilers- Nakuru Athletic Club, 3pm