Shujaa picks five points down south to move to 12th spot in the world seven series campaign

The Kenya sevens national rugby team aries after they picked five points at the Sydney Sevens event over the weekend where they were eliminated by Tonga in the ninth place semifinals through conversions in a tight clash where both sides were tied at four tries each but the match eventually ended 24-26 in favour of Samoa.

Kenya had finished third in pool B behind South Africa and New Zealand who went ahead to set up the cup final, while Shujaa headed to the ninth-place quarterfinals where a 17-12 sudden death win over Spain was crucial for the team to leap to 12th place that was previously held by Spain who were initially tied on 16 points with Kenya on the global standings.

Shujaa only managed five points in Sydney after an improved Tonga side avenged their 33-19 beating by Kenya in the Hamilton 7s, 9th place semis, by winning 26-24 in Sydney to deny coach Damian McGrath charges the chance to collect eight points, but despite the painful exit, McGrath’s boys had already sealed their fate to trade places with Spain.

Defied all odds

Kenya is now 12th with 21 points while Spain dropped to 13th with 17 points, Canada remained 14th with 14 points while Tonga and Japan remained 15th and 16th with 12 and 6 points respectively.

Of the bottom four teams, Tonga emerged the best having defied all odds to reach the 9th place final where they led Argentina 12-7 before the Pumas who won the previous leg in Hamilton to bag 22 points rallied from behind to finish 9th courtesy of a 21-19 win to bag 8 points while Tonga collected 7 points.  

Focus now shifts to the February-bound Los Angeles 7s and later in March the Vancouver sevens will be in the offing. Damian McGrath’s coached side will be focused on trading places with 11th-placed Uruguay who held onto the position with 24 points, just three ahead of Shujaa who managed to beat them 24-19 at the pool stage.

For the win over Uruguay captain Nelson Oyoo led by example by scoring a brace while Alvin Otieno and half-back Tony Omondi scored a vital try each to grab vengeance on the series debutant who had previously shocked the Kenyan outfit 10-7.

During the 9th place quarterfinal match against Spain, the team had to rally from 7-0 down to lead 12-7 at the break thanks to two tries by Herman Humwa and Tony Omondi while Omondi converted Humwa’s try. Spain fought back to level the scores 12-12 by good vision by Dennis Abukuse spotted a gap and a pick and go off a ruck situation struck the much-needed third try that won the match 17-12.

After beating Spain, Shujaa was left speechless as Tonga whom they beat comfortably in Hamilton brought in the A game and tied on four tries with them but conversions success was on Shujaa’s side as two conversions were not enough to win the clash which the opponent had converted three of their four tries and it was Tonga who went ahead to meet Argentina in another tough 9th place playoff.

The loss to Tonga signalled the exit of forward Willy Ambaka who retired from international 7s rugby.