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The Kenya Lionesses have advanced to the Repechage semi-finals after a hard-fought 15-12 victory over Argentina in Monaco on Sunday.

This match was a rematch of the group stage clash, where the Lionesses narrowly defeated Argentina 19-17, enabling them to advance to the quarter-finals as Pool A winners.

kenya Lionesses score

The game began with two intense and cautious minutes before Grace Odhiambo broke the deadlock, giving the Lionesses a 5-0 lead after a break on the left wing.

Kenya doubled their lead when Stella Wafula outmaneuvered her markers to score the second try, extending their advantage to 10-0 by halftime.

In the second half, Judith Okumu ripped the ball from the Argentines and set up speedster Janet Okello for Kenya’s third try. Despite ongoing struggles with conversions, Kenya maintained control.

Argentina responded with a try from Mayra Genghini at the corner, followed by a beautifully executed play that saw Josefina Padellaro score, narrowing the gap to just three points after a conversion.

Despite Argentina’s late surge, the Lionesses held firm to secure their spot in the semi-finals. They will face Czechia, who ended Uganda’s unbeaten run in the quarter-finals, aiming to reach the final.

On Saturday, Sinaida Nyachio scored 16 points, including two tries, as Kenya opened their World Rugby Sevens Repechage campaign with a 31-5 win over Samoa. Kenya then came from behind to beat Argentina in an all-action affair. Freshia Oduor scored the game’s first and last tries after Maria Brigido Chamorro had given the South American side the edge. The two sides will meet again in a must-see quarter-final on Sunday.

First-half tries from Lona Amoli, Grace Auma, and Agnes Nakuya set Uganda on the path to a hard-fought 17-14 victory over Hong Kong China in a pool-deciding clash of previously unbeaten sides. Poon Hoi Yan and Chan Tsz Ching’s second-period touchdowns – the first scores Uganda conceded in Monaco – were not enough to complete a comeback.

Both sides were already assured of a last-eight place. Chong Ka Yan’s second hat-trick in two matches secured Hong Kong China’s quarter-final spot as they defeated a determined Jamaica 22-12 earlier in the day. Paraguay joined the quarter-finalists with their first win of the competition – a 36-21 victory over Jamaica in their final pool match, after losing 24-0 earlier to Uganda.

China confirmed their status as tournament favorites with a perfect run to the top of Pool F, following their 55-0 day one win over Mexico with two more dominant wins on day two. Czechia were the only side to cross their try line but couldn’t stop China from scoring seven touchdowns en route to a 41-5 win, before cruising to a 26-0 victory over fancied Poland.

Despite that pool-deciding defeat to China, Poland finished second to ensure their involvement on finals day, thanks to their 60-0 win over Mexico earlier on day two. Czechia’s impressive 45-0 victory over the Central American side – for whom Karina Landeros played her last-ever match – was enough to see them through to the last eight as a best third-placed team.