TUM Marines and Zetech Oaks emerged victorious in their respective semifinal clashes, earning well-deserved promotions to the KRU Championship.
TUM Marines’ journey to promotion saw them replace Kabarak, while Zetech Oaks stepped into the spot vacated by Shamas Foundation. For the Oaks, this promotion marks their second stint in the second tier, while Marines have set their sights on making a mark in their upcoming campaign.
TUM Marines promoted
The semifinal showdowns were filled with intense action and nail-biting moments. Sigalagala’s aspirations were dashed for the second consecutive year at the coast, as they succumbed to a narrow 26-23 defeat.
This loss mirrored their previous year’s disappointment against Mombasa In a gripping encounter, Steve Migel set the tone for TUM Marines with an opening try, converted expertly by Elias Gitonga. The Marines surged ahead with Ezra’s try, building a commanding 12-0 lead.
Despite Sigalagala’s valiant efforts to narrow the gap, the Marines maintained their momentum, with Gitonga’s penalty and another try from Ezra extending their lead to 20-0.
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However, Sigalagala rallied back in the second half, led by Sam Bachai’s determined efforts. Bachai’s penalty and try, coupled with conversions, closed the deficit to a mere three points.
Gitonga’s pivotal penalty swung the momentum back in favor of the Marines, ultimately securing their hard-fought 26-23 victory and earning them a promotion to the KRU Championship.
Zetech promoted to KRU Championship
Meanwhile, Zetech Oaks showcased their resilience in a fierce battle against formidable opponents. With two tries and a conversion, they seized control of the match, ultimately prevailing with a 23-9 victory.
The Oaks surged into an early lead against their opponents, P61, with Mike Wekesa’s opening try expertly converted by Jack Mangale. P61 managed to respond with a penalty from Don Keya, keeping the scoreline competitive.
Zetech Oaks further solidified their advantage with Byron Ondego’s try, although the conversion attempt went unconverted. Keya’s penalty narrowed the gap, but the Oaks held firm, entering halftime with a 12-6 lead.
In the second half, Paul Murwa’s penalty brought P61 within striking distance, closing the scoreline to 12-6. However, Zetech Oaks remained composed under pressure, as Jack Mangale’s precise kicking extended their lead once more, restoring a six-point gap.
The momentum firmly in their favor, Zetech Oaks continued to assert their dominance, with former Kenya U20 player Anderson Oduor landing a crucial try to further cement their lead at 20-9. Johnson Wafula added three more points for win.
