Varsity sides University of Nairobi Mean Machine and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) RFC were both relegated on the final day of the regular Kenya cup season.
The two teams were relegated after Machine lost 49-5 in the hands of KCB RFC while MMUST lost 18-14 to Mwamba RFC at the MMUST Grounds in Kakamega.
Both MMUST and Machine will now shift their focus to the second tier also known as the Championship.
In the MMUST fixture, Griffin Chao scored the first try with Eric Cantona adding the extras, 7-0 the score line.
Visiting Mwamba RFC however had other ideas a few minutes later with two successive tries and one conversion, bringing the score to 12-7 heading to the intervals.
It was a cocktail of events after the break with MMUST Jadah Abdon scoring a try, which was converted, however, Brian Kivasia’s two penalty kicks gave the visitors a 15-14 lead.
MMUST lack of experience on the defensive line forced the centre referee to penalise them which Mwamba did not disappoint to take the scores to 18-14 to relegate the varsity side to the second tier.
On the other hand, Machine was relegated courtesy of a 49-5 loss to former Kenya cup champions KCB.
Their demotion brings the curtains down on a three-year stay in Kenya’s top-tier rugby club competition.
On the same breath Kabras Sugar after securing the top position after the regular season while KCB confirmed home semi-final berths with the bankers coming in second with 51 points as the Oilers settled third with 37 points.
KCB beat Mean Machine 49-5 at the University of Nairobi to book Menengai Oilers in the semis in a repeat of the 2022 semifinal that saw Oilers slay KCB to progress to the final where they eventually lost to Kabras.
Kabras will play Kenya Harlequin in the second semifinal after beating Menengai Oilers 15-13 as Quins saw off Strathmore Leos 32-18.
Nakuru defeated Catholic Monks 26-12 as Kenya Harlequins were 32–18 winners over Strathmore Leos to stay fourth with 37 points and will face Nakuru in the other semi-final play-offs.
In the Championship league, frontrunners Nondescripts lost 7-0 to former Kenya cup side Impala RFC after Samuel Oliech converted Frank Aduda’s first-half try to secure the much-needed win.
This was Nondies first defeat of the season but were fortunate enough to top the log and earn a home semi-final fixture.
Daystar Falcons finished second, sealing the second home semi-final slot with a 33-25 victory over the South Coast Pirates as Kisumu were 29–9 winners over Western Bulls.
University of Eldoret Trojans claimed the 28-0 result over Eldoret as Zetech Oaks edged Kabarak 15-7 while USIU Martials and Shamas settled for a 20-20 draw.
Kenya Cup matchday 11 results
Homeboyz 24 Blak Blad 36
Mean Machine 5 KCB 49
Catholic Monks 12 Nakuru RFC 26
MMUST 14 Mwamba 18
Quins 32 Strathmore Leos 18
Kabras Sugar 15 Menengai Oilers 13
Agencies
