Kenya turned in a superb second-half performance to beat Uganda 45-24 and reclaim the Elgon Cup at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.
Kenya won 93-34 on aggregate after their 48-10 victory in the first leg against the Cranes in Kampala just over a month ago.
Saturday’s match also doubled up as an Rugby Africa Cup Division 1A fixture, and the Simbas' second bonus-point win of the competition assured them of second place behind unbeaten champions Namibia, who still have to play bottom-of-the-table Zimbabwe, on 6 August.
Neither side’s World Rugby Ranking was affected by the result, with Kenya remaining at an all-time high of 24th and Uganda 42nd.
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Kenya were the first to strike in a frenetic first half that saw the lead change hands five times.
Ronnie Mwenesi, making his first start in over a year after being out with injury, touched down on the right after just four minutes with Darwin Mukidza converting. He was soon followed over the line by David Ambunya as the Simbas posted a dozen points without reply.
Uganda hit back with two converted tries, Michael Okorach setting up the first for fly-half Ivan Magomu before full-back Phil Wokorach converted his own try to make the scoreline 14-12 in the Cranes’ favour.
A Mukidza penalty edged Kenya in front again, but their joy was short-lived as influential Ugandan number eight Marvin Odongo crashed over the line for an unconverted try.
Kenya dominated the latter stages of the first half though, and Mukidza's second penalty and a Sammy Warui try sent the home side into the break with a 23-19 lead.
The momentum was all theirs after the break and they stretched further in front when Mukidza kicked his third penalty and then converted captain Brian Nyikuli’s try.
Ugandan danger man Wokorach temporarily stopped the rot, with a second well-taken try pulling the score back to 33-24, however Kenya found an almost immediate response through Simon Muniafu before Max Adaka rounded off proceedings with the Simbas’ sixth try late on.
Photo: Kenya RFU