South Coast Pirates down USIU in season finale

South Coast Pirates ended their 2023/23 regular season on a high after overpowering United States International University (USIU) 35-22 in the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship match played at the USIU Grounds on Saturday.

The Diani-based club was fresh from a 102-3 victory over the University of Eldoret (UoE) Trojans while the students were on a mission to avenge their 24-10 loss in the hands of Daystar Falcons.

Pirates also headed to this match, Pirates occupied the second position on the log with 36 points while their opponents were placed eighth on the table with 12 points.

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It was Brighton Omondi who opened the scores for the Pirates with a well-chased try thanks to Joseph Musyoki's powerful kick. The conversion attempt was off because of the windy weather.

Following that, the Pirates dominated the hosts' set pieces, piling pressure on them and causing them to infringe. Kelly Akeng'o did not hesitate to drill in a penalty that confirmed Pirates' lead.

The Pirates, this time more motivated than ever continued piling more pressure on their hosts, causing them to infringe yet again, this time one student was sent to the naughty chair.

The Coastal-based team then capitalized on the numerical advantage, scoring a well-worked-out try thanks to former Nakuru RFC player Gilbert Ochieng. Akeng'o missed the penalty by a whisker to see the score rise to 13-0.

Akeng'o redeemed himself by scoring a penalty that added three more points to the Pirates' scoreboard.

In the final minutes of the opening half, USIU managed their opening try courtesy of Faustine Waswa. He converted his try to see the halftime scores at 16-7.

The closing half started on a high for both teams, with the students striking through Fred Okoth. The conversion attempt was off.

The try served as a wake-up call to the visitors who scored through Brighton. That was his second try of the match. Akeng'o was sure with the conversion.

Musyoki would then intercept a ball from their opponents, to race clear and score another five-pointer for the Pirates. Akeng'o's magical boots added the extras.

The students scored two more tries through Okoth, and the conversions went off. Charles Tendwa confirmed the Pirates' win with another well-worked-out five-pointer with Akeng'o sending the crowd wild with his magical kicks.

With the win, the Pirates have earned a home semifinal and will be looking to proceed to the top-tier league. Devin Abuga was crowned the man of the match.