MMUST claim first Kenya Cup win after beating Mwamba

MMUST RFC players celebrate after earning promotion to Kenya Cup. [Washington Onyango,Standard]

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST RFC) bagged their first-ever Kenya Cup win after beating hosts Mwamba RFC 12-6 in a tight match played at KCB Sports Club in Nairobi on Saturday.

MMUST captain Kevin Abuga and winger Lamech Ambetsa two tries were enough to earn the students their maiden win in the top flight league.

The two tries were enough to knock out a less threatening Mwamba side who could only score through penalties by Charles Kuka and Brian Mwangi.

The victory saw the Kakamega based students who were promoted to the Kenya Cup earlier this year move to seventh in the log with four points, 11 points behind leader Kabras Sugar and KCB.

Both teams headed into the match seeking to register their first win of the season.

The hosts had lost their opening match to Kenya University’s Blak Blad last weekend while MMUST had lost their two opening matches against Kabras Sugar and Nakuru.

MMUST were first off the hooks through captain Abuga’s unconverted try.

Quick thinking by the skipper after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Samuel Mbeche saw Abuga cross over the white wash for MMUST’s first try of the game.

Mwamba trimmed the gap to two-points after responding through Brian Mwangi’s boots, converting a penalty kick for a 5-3 score.

The visitors would however stretch their lead to nine-points after winger Ambetsa left Mwamba’s defense napping off a ruck to touch down in between the posts for a 12-3 halftime lead.

Despite converting a penalty by Kuka, the visitors held on to claim the first-ever win in the top tier.

MMUST will host Nondies in their first match at home next weekend.

Kenya Cup Results

Kenya Harlequin 5 Kabras Sugar 43

Mwamba 6 MMUST 12

Blak Blad 19 KCB 32