Impeccable Masinde Muliro crush Kitale RFC to bag title

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology on Saturday put up a gallant fight edging Kitale RFC 27-6 in Kakamega to be crowned the 2017/18 nationwide league champions.

MMUST three tries and one conversion against Kitales two penalties saw the latter assume a huge half time lead, locking the game out of the reach for the opponents.

The tense game saw emotions run high with the referee penalizing some for fist-fights.

MMUST who are this season’s Western region champions went into the clash confident in the wake of an unbeaten run and were the better side from kick off with their key player Elvis Amunga being the tormentor-in-chief.

Barely 15 minutes of play, had Amunga scored a brace which was easily converted. He went on to score two more quick tries to settle his side’s nerves and protect their unbeaten run.

However fly-half Derrick Okisai failed to add the much needed points after booting wide his conversion attempt.

Okisais blunder would later haunt him after he was caught napping on defence, causing an infringement that saw Kitale cut the gap to two points after they successfully converted a penalty awarded to them.

By the time the scoreboard read 22-3 in favour of the hosts,  Kitale were already fatigued and offered little opposition to the high flying champions.

Soon after the break, speedster Claude Masika added salt to injury, showing a clean pair of heels for a five- pointer and last try of the game.

Kitale who were clearly not enjoying the afternoon from the scoreboard readings and their miseries far from over slotted in their second penalty as a consolation to bring the scoreline to 27-6.

To book a place in the final, MMUST beat Eldoret RFC 30-5 as Kitale dismissed Swara RFC 12-5 in the other semis.

By virtue of winning their away semifinal fixtures, both MMUST and Kitale earned promotion to the second tier KRU Championship come next season, and will take the place of Moi Arsonists and JKUAT Cougars who have been relegated.