After Hamilton high, Kenya hit low in Sydney, losing all matches
One step ahead and two backwards, so it seems for Kenya Sevens team. After an impressive third leg of the World Sevens Series in Hamilton, New Zealand where they lost one, drew one and won against South Africa to collect 10 points, Shujaa could only manage one point in the subsequent round in Sydney last weekend.
For a team that reached the cup quarters in the second round in Cape Town and seventh in Hamilton, it was seen as Shujaa were making progress only for them to lose all their matches to finish 15th on the 16-team table.
Shujaa wrapped up their Sydney Sevens campaign with a 19-12 loss to Samoa in the 15th place playoff.
They did not secure any win in the two-day tournament as they lost 28-14 to Fiji, 26-21 to Wales and 19-5 to New Zealand in the pool stages to finish last in Pool A.
Shujaa were ranked as the third best fourth team, booking the 15th place playoff date against the fourth best fourth team, Samoa.
Samoa’s Tofatu Solia was first to cross the whitewash as he rampaged his way past oncoming defenders, the conversion sailed wide for a 5-0 lead.
Shujaa were starved of the ball for the better part of the first half and when they finally got possession, Alvin Otieno gained several metres before he was tackled but he offloaded just in time for Willy Ambaka who leveled the scores to 5-5, Johnstone Olindi’s conversion giving Shujaa the lead.
At half-time, Kenya were leading 7-5. In the second half, Elisapeta Alofipo gave Samoa the lead as he landed a centre post try but was soon watered down by Vincent Onyala’s try.
Shujaa’s conversion was short and scores were 12-12. Samoa secured their first win of the weekend after Paul Scanlan landed their third try with Tomasi Alosio converting to give them the 19-12 lead that they held on to the end.
In all matches, one thing has stood up for Kenya. Their mental strength. Shujaa have been taking the lead in most of the matches only to surrender the advantage later on to either draw or lose.
It is something head coach Paul Feeney had promised to work on ahead of Sydney but it looks like he will have to take more time to fine tune his team before the next leg, the tour of the Americas, from February 29-March 1 in Los Angeles, California.
