Catholic Monks, Mean Machine promoted to Kenya Cup

Catholic Monks's Humphrey Wafulo goes past MMUST's Lameck Ambetsa. [Washington Ongao,Standard]

Catholic Monks and University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine have been promoted to the Kenya Cup.

Monks defeated Shamas Foundation 9-5 to win their Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championships semi-final at the RFUEA ground on Saturday.

The win saw the varsity students make their return to the topflight rugby league since 2014/15 season.

Samuel Omollo scored three penalties in the win as Godfrey Khisero scored an unconverted try for Shamas.

Mean Machine on the other hand beat South Coast Pirates 20-14 in the other semi-final duel at Seacrest, Ukunda.

Machine return to the top tier after two seasons of absence. Last season, their dream to return to the top tier was cut short after falling to MMUST in Kakamega.

South Coast Pirates on the other hand were featuring in the semis for the first time after topping the standings in the KRU Championship with 42 points.

Machine - who won Kenya Cup in 1977, 1989 ans 1990 - were relegated from Kenya Cup during the 2018/19 season.

Machine and Monks will replace Impala and Nondies who were relegated ahead of the 2022-2023 Kenya Cup season.