Rugby: All home teams register wins as Kisii and Egerton fixture is abandoned

MMUST RFC player Timothy Mmasi prepares to take a penalty during a KRU Championship match. (PHOTO: Washington Onyango/Standard)

Western Bulls gore their way to the top

Masinde Muliro shock leaders Catholic Monks as Kitale win over USIU lifts them out of the bottom table.

Suleiman Abubakar and Derrick Ashiundu inspired Western Bulls to an impressive 39-6 victory over South Coast Pirates in the 2018-19 KRU Championships in Kakamega over the weekend.

The win pushed the former Kenya Cup side to the helm of the standings with 33 points after nine rounds of matches.

Catholic Monks are second with 32 points, same as United States International University-Africa (USIU) RFC, who are third.

Kisumu and Masinde Muliro University complete the top five with 23 and 18 points respectively.

Abubakar bagged a hat-trick with Ashiundu getting a brace as the Echulusi registered seven tries completed by Andrew Odhiambo and Billy Nubia’s touch downs.

They also converted two conversions, while Pirates replied with two penalties.

Bulls head coach Bram Shikanda congratulated his boys saying hard work and resilience has paid off in their journey so far.

“We have been working hard throughout the year and our resilience and patience paid off. Congratulations to the boys but they should not relax as the season has just started,” Shikanda said in post-match interview.

At Kakamega showground, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) RFC handed Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) Monks RFC their second defeat of the season with a befitting 15-8 win.

Coming into the match, Monks were league leaders and the loss relegated them to second place alongside USIU with 32 points.

The visitors began the match on a high, taking a 3-0 lead through a penalty by Newton Wasike before Timothy Mmasi equalised for MMUST with a penalty.

MMUST took the lead before half time after Derrick Okisai crossed the white wash to beat the Catholics defence.

Tyson Juma made it 13 points minutes into the second half as he touched down between the posts and his conversion was enough to extend the points to 15.

Monks responded much later with one try by Moses Laboke but failed to convert for a 15-8 score.

Ochieng Ahaya's charges held on to win 15-8 to move three places up to fifth with 18 points.

In Eldoret, former Kenya Cup side Mombasa RFC suffered a 17-3 defeat to University of Eldoret.