Kubu stars as Kenya edge archrivals Uganda to win 2023 Elgon Cup

Uganda captain Ivan Magomu (center) in action against Kenya Simbas in Kisumu.[Uganda Rugby Union]

Kenya Simbas are the 2023 Elgons Cup champions.

Fijian-born Kenyan international Jone Kubu scored 15 points to inspire Kenya to a 20-13 win over Uganda Cranes in the Elgons Cup finals played at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu on Saturday.

This was a revenge win for Kenya who had previously lost the Victoria Cup final to the Ugandans 21-20 a week ago in Kampala.

Kabras Sugar flyhalf Kubu got Kenya off to a good start after splitting the posts with a 10-yard penalty to lead 3-0 inside the opening 10 minutes.

Elkins Musonye then grounded Kenya's first try to stretch the scores to 10-0 after Kubu's successfully conversion.

Sensing Simbas pulling away, Uganda captain Ivan Magomu drilled in a penalty to cut the Kenyan lead to 10-3.

Uganda would get another penalty but Magomu failed to cut the Kenyan gap further after his shot failed to sail through the posts for Kenya to lead 10-3 at the break. 

In the final half, Kubu would again give Kenya a perfect restart after touching down between the posts and stretch Simbas lead to 17-3 after converting his own try. 

The lead promoted Ugandan head coach Emmanuel Katuntu to withdraw fly half Magomu for penalty specialist Liam Walker, a move that quickly materialized into 10 straight points within a span of five minutes. 

The Ugandans first scored a try that would be converted by Walker who proceeded to drill in a penalty that cut Kenya's lead to 17-13.

Uganda would be proved with an opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the game after being awarded two back to back penalties but Walker who scored Cranes penalty that saw Uganda beat Kenya 21-20 last week in Kampala failed to split the posts twice. 

Kubu returned to haunt the Ugandans moments later, splitting the posts to stretch Simbas lead to 20-13.