Kenyans thrash Chile and Scotland

By BS Mulavi

The Kenya national sevens team on Saturday night kicked off their USA leg title campaign in flying form by thrashing Chile 33-7 and Scotland 17-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the fourth leg of the International Rugby Board sevens circuit.

Kenya were, however, unfortunate to lose to Samoa 19-7 in their last game of the day to qualify for the quarters as the second team in a tough pool C.

Kenya seemed a more composed side as compared to last week when they played in the Wellington leg in New Zealand.

Ayimba and his charges oozed machismo from the onslaught of the tournament, getting five tries and four conversions past a hapless Chile side that could hardly keep up with the hard running from the Kenyans.

Kenyan maestro Collins Injera opened the scoring, while Innocent Simiyu got a brace on top of Brian Nyikuli’s solo effort try.

Chile could only manage a last minute consolation try from Ricardo Sifri.

Tougher fight

Kenya’s second game of the day saw Scotland put on a much tougher fight as compared to Chile but despite the Scots holding out for the three opening minutes, Collins Injera once again opened the scoring with a 40-yard dash at his favourite wing position to give the Kenyans a 7-0 half time lead.

The second half was no different with Kenya patiently building up several phases of play to put through Gibson Weru and Humphrey Kayange to seal off the game at 17-0 at the blow of the final buzzer.

Kenya had to beat Samoa to top the pool and gain some revenge from their last week’s loss but that was not to be as Samoa came out guns-blazing in their last match of the day to outclass Kenya for a heartrending 19-7 win.

Stir up

Samoa, who are all too familiar with the threat posed by the Kenyans, came into the game with a fast-paced mentality and immediately got the Kenyans running.

Instead of Kenya cooling down the tempo and playing the way they started the tournament, they too opted to take on the Samoans physically and this is where the game slipped out from their hands.

Tries from Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Reupana Levasa and Uale Mai were enough to kill the local boys’ hopes of landing an easy draw in the quarters.

Even though Captain Humphrey Kayange tried to stir up a comeback for the Kenyans, his last minute center post try was only enough to save face from the embarrassment of not scoring even a single try against their arch rivals.

Kenya played England on Sunday night with the hopes of avenging their pool loss last weekend.