Kisii RFC outsmart AP Warriors to seal Championship return after five-years
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 04.05.25. | 07:25
The hosts, backed by a passionate home crowd, showed resilience and tactical discipline to overcome the determined AP Warriors in the tense encounter
Former Kenya Cup side Kisii RFC have secured their return to the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship after a gritty 13-6 playoff victory over Administration Police Warriors in a match played on Saturday, 3 May at Kisii High School.
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This victory capped the team's long-awaited comeback to the second-tier league.
The hosts, backed by a passionate home crowd, showed resilience and tactical discipline to overcome the determined AP Warriors in the tense encounter.
Kisii trailed early following a penalty by the visitors, but captain Evans Makori ignited the home side’s hopes with a crucial try, which was converted by Walter Aiko to give them a 7-3 lead.
AP slotted in another penalty just before the break, trimming the gap to a single point at halftime.
The second half proved to be a battle of nerves. Guided by Kisii School coach Lee Arstone, the hosts remained composed.
Aiko added a penalty before substitute Anthony Nyasani came off the bench to deliver the dagger, a well-taken drop goal that pushed the score to 13-6 and kept AP Warriors at bay.
This victory marks redemption for Kisii RFC, who were heartbreakingly eliminated at this stage last season by Zetech University, the eventual playoff winners.
Their return to the Championship ends a five-year hiatus that began after the 2019/20 season, which was marred by walkovers and eventual relegation. The club had earlier dropped out of the Kenya Cup at the close of the 2017/18 campaign.
Now back in the second tier, Kisii RFC will be keen to re-establish their presence and build towards a brighter future.
In the other playoff match, NYS clinched the final Championship slot after edging Kenya Prisons, famously known as 'The Berets,' 14-12 in a tightly contested fixture played at the Prison Staff College in Ruiru.
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