KRU announces Enterprise Cup pre-quarters pairings
By Collins Amanga, March 2, 2024
The Kenya Rugby Union has released the 2024 Enterprise Cup pre-quarterfinal pairings for the matches slated for April 2024.
Defending Champions Kabras Sugar kick off the tournament against Mwamba RFC at the Kakamega Showgrounds on April 20 while Runners-up KCB will welcome the Catholic Monks.
Enterprise Cup pre-quarters
Impala will clash with Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad, and Nondies will play against MKU Thika. Mean Machine will host JKUAT Cougars.
USIU will welcome Kenya Harlequin, African Nazarene will challenge Northern Suburbs, and Stallions will tackle Strathmore Leos.
The pre-quarters will be played in four different venues on April 20, 2024; Kakamega Showgrounds, KCB Ruaraka, Impala Club and RFUEA Grounds.
The quarters will be played on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 while the semifinals and finals will be held on May 4 and 25 respectively.
The Enterprise Cup is the oldest competition in Kenyan rugby history having first played in 1930.
In 2023, Kabras Sugar retained the Enterprise Cup with a hard-fought, come-from-behind 30-27 victory over eternal rivals KCB at the RFUEA Ground.
KCB were the first to get points on the board, Darwin Mukidza’s early penalty giving them a 3-0 lead.
Jacob Ojee then went over the whitewash, KCB leading 8-0 before converting Fidel Maina’s try as the bankers led 15-0.
Another Mukidza penalty made it 18-0 and at this point, KCB were coasting, well, until the introduction of Brian Tanga who changed the game for the sugarmen.
Enterprise Cup comeback
Dan Sikuta soon went over the whitewash, Valerian Tendwa converting to make the scores 18-7 at the break.
Tendwa drilled home a second-half penalty for an 18-10 score before adding another one in between two Mukidza penalties as the scores read 24-13 to KCB.
Tendwa was again sure with the boot, converting James Obela’s try for a 24-20 score before Mukidza scored the last of KCB’s points, the bankers leading 27-20 before Kabras came back in the dying moments, Tendwa drilling home a penalty for 27-23 before a late try at the death won the game for the sugarmen, completing their second league and cup double in two seasons.