Kenya Cup: MMUST, Mean Machine relegated as playoff matches confirmed

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and Mean Machine kissed the top flight rugby league in the country goodbye as they were officially relegated to the second tier Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship following the conclusion of the regular phase of the 2022/2023 Kenya Cup campaign on Saturday evening.

Needing nothing short of wins to at least have any chance of evading the chop, the two varsity sides failed to come close to their mission as they both lost their last matches of the season.

While MMUST lost 14-18 against Mwamba at home, Machine were sent packing in cruel style as KCB condemned them to a 5-49 thumping in their own backyard.

The result meant that MMUST, who were promoted to the Kenya Cup for the first time in the 2021/2022 season, go back to the championship after two season of top flight rugby.

Three time Kenya Cup champions Machine on the other hand drop back to the second tier after just one season back in the Kenya Cup.

Away from relegation, defending champions Kabras Sugar, KCB, Menengai Oilers and Kenya Harlequin confirmed their places in the playoffs for this season’s title.

Kabras finished first after winning 15-13 against Oilers who ended up finishing third after the last fixtures of the season as KCB finished in second.

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Quins saw off Strathmore Leos 32-18 to finish in fourth place.

The playoff semifinals will now see Kabras Sugar face Kenya Harlequin as KCB come up against Menengai Oilers who knocked them out in at the same stage last season.

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