Administration Police Warriors booked their place in the Mwamba Cup quarterfinals after edging Mean Machine 13-12 in a tightly contested Round of 16 clash.
Mean Machine struck first in the sixth minute when scrum-half Duncan Shamala crossed over to hand the students an early lead. AP Warriors responded in the 25th minute through Godwin Olouch, who crossed to pull his side back into the contest before Ephraim Papai added the conversion to give AP a 7-5 advantage.
The lead was short-lived as Mean Machine regained control four minutes later, with Nick Okongo touching down for a try that was converted by Gabriel Okello to restore a 12-7 lead.
Just before halftime, AP Warriors reduced the deficit when Papai slotted over a penalty, sending the teams into the break with Mean Machine narrowly ahead at 12-10.
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In a tense second half, defences dominated as scoring chances proved hard to come by. The decisive moment came when Papai calmly converted a penalty to push AP Warriors ahead for the first time in the half, a lead they held onto until the final whistle to eliminate Mean Machine.
Elsewhere, NYS Spades were edged out 15-13 by Sigalagala National Polytechnic in another closely fought encounter, with Sigalagala securing their place in the last eight.
The remainder of the Round of 16 was largely decided by walkovers, with Kenya Prisons advancing 28-0 against Homeboyz RFC. USIU Martials, Western Bulls, JKUAT Cougars, Kisii RFC and Mombasa RFC also progressed with 28-0 walkovers against Kabarak University, KCNP, TUM Marines, Stallions Rugby and UoE Trojans respectively.
MWAMBA CUP
Mean Machine 12 – 13 AP Warriors
NYS Spades 13 – 15 Sigalagala NP
Homeboyz RFC 0 – 28 Kenya Prisons
USIU Martials 28 – 0 Kabarak University
Western Bulls 28 – 0 KCNP
JKUAT Cougars 28 – 0 TUM Marines
Kisii RFC 28 – 0 Stallions Rugby
Mombasa RFC 28 – 0 UoE Trojans
