Kisumu RFC and Western Bulls traveled to Nairobi with one goal on their mind: winning their KRU Championship semifinal matches against Catholic Monks and USIU RFC respectively and so they did.
At the Catholic University of East Africa, the Monks-Kisumu encounter ended in an eleven all draw, a performance that saw the game go into sudden death. An infringement by the hosts resulted in Kisumu drilling in the three points that saw them claim the 14-11 win and reclaim their position in the Kenya Cup league.
USIU RFC held on to a 6-0 lead for the better part of the first half, splitting the posts with two penalties before Western Bulls’ try and conversion saw them leap frog to a 7-6 lead at the breather. Echulusi scored three unconverted tries in the second half but conceded ten points off a converted USIU try and one penalty kick. Bulls held on to the 22-16 lead to the full time.
The promotion of the two upcountry teams into the league brings their total to five out of twelve. Two teams from Nakuru: Top Fry Nakuru and Menengai Oilers, two from Kakamega: Kabras Sugar RFC and Western Bulls and Kisumu RFC.
The two teams will meet next week in the Championship final to determine the overall winner. In their promotion, they have taken the slots of Mean Machine and Strathmore Leos who were relegated from the Kenya Cup.