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Battle for the 2021 Rugby Africa Barthes U20 trophy kicked off on a high note for Kenya following their 50-3 win against Senegal in an opener played at the Nyayo national stadium on June 26.

The hosts went to the half time in a two-try lead courtesy of an opener try by Matoka Matoka who drew first blood after just five minutes and returned to further the scores with a penalty twenty minutes later.

A superb team play by the backline kept the ball rolling and fullback Anderson Oduor set up his winger William Opaka to score their second try for a 13-0 halftime lead.

The resumption was however the turnaround as Kenya would score 37 points six tries while the visitors managed one penalty.

Second rower Ibrahim Ayodi scored a converted try for a 20-0 lead for a short-lived moment as substitute Edwin Nyachio would further the tally with a converted try scored off a rolling maul in the Senegalese territory.

The visitors however punished an infringement through a penalty by fly-half Arnold Onzere to bring the scores to 27-3.

The combination of full back Anderson Oduor and winger William Opaka was exceptional as the former made a second assist for the winger who landed his second try of the match and moments later Oduor himself took the honors of diving for the sixth try of the match. (pictured)

Chipu eighth man and captain John Baraka then took matters upon himself to wreck the defense line with a big carry for the seventh try of the match in the 67th minute of the game.

The following 13 minutes saw a period of expression as both teams gave their all to only record one try as a result. The scorer was substitute Tyson Juma who sealed the celebrated 50-3 win.

Kenya’s captain John Baraka was elated by the score after a slow start in the first half that saw the hosts head to the half time break on a 13-0 lead.

“We did not put up a good show in the first half but we picked up in the second half with a winning mentality. I’m proud of how the squad played today. We hope to replicate this when we meet Madagascar,” he told People Daily Digital.

On his part, head coach Curtis Olago, who noticed an unnecessary physical contest but was pleased by the second-half effort, the match showcased an expected slow start.

“We were simply not making the right decisions in the first half and we were too physical. We did not exploit the spaces that were available. The problem of gaining dominance was however thankfully sorted in the second half.

“I will review the video of how we played in order to identify the mistakes we made and try to correct them. Hopefully, when we return, we will play better, pass sharper and execute as expected,” Curtis said.