The return of Paul Murunga from international assignments was beneficial to Rhinos who secured their maiden win against Menengai Cream Cheetahs in the ongoing Rugby Super Series played on yesterday in Kakamega.
As hosts Buffaloes failed to shine at home when they fell to the Lions 20-5, this was the second loss for the Buffaloes and second win for Lions.
Murunga, who was on an international assignment with Kenya Lionesses at the Rugby Africa Women Cup in Madagascar led the Rhinos to end the unbeaten run for the Lawrence Buyachi’s coached side Cheetahs after securing a maiden win of 27-23.
Cheetah’s had started the series with a 29-7 victory over Buffaloes before seeing off Lions 18-16 and their dominance came to an abrupt ending against the winless Rhinos.
Stephen Osumba missed the first and second conversions with tries from Ryan Odua and Victor Odhiambo as the Rhinos led 10-0 but celebrations were turned off when Cheetah’s Abdalla Abtwalib responded with a penalty to narrow the lead to 10-3before Amos Obae try was successfully converted by Abtwalib to hand the Cheetah’s level 10-10.
But Odhiambo sprinted past the Cheetah’s defense to make a third try for the Rhinos with Osumba converting for 17-10 lead and with a penalty try from Osumba, the Rhinos maintained 20-10 lead at the break.
At the resumption, the Cheetahs reduced the lead with unconverted try for 20-15 from Abtwalib and Emmanuel Mboya’s unconverted try leveled the score at 20-20 then Cheetah’s for the took the lead trough Abtwalib penalty for 20-23 lead before Rhino’s Paul Mutsami made a converted try to hand them the 27-23 win.
With the Lions’ win, they take top position while the loss for Cheetah’s they drop to second position ahead of Saturday matches at RFUEA Grounds next weekend.