Shujaa edge USA to sail through Vancouver Sevens semifinals
The Kenya rugby sevens national team popularly known as Shujaa qualified for the Vancouver 7s semi-finals after edging off the USA 19-14 win in the quarterfinals stage played on Sunday at BC Place Stadium, Canada.
Due to their win, the Innocent Simiyu charges will play Ireland at 11:20 PM as they seek to book a place in the final of the tournament.
Homeboyz RFC Alvin Otieno and Mwamba RFC fly half Daniel Taabu were on target for Shujaa with the former bagging two tries for Kenya.
USA coached by Shujaa former head coach Mike Friday touched down first through captain Kevon Williams who sliced past Kenya’s defence after being offloaded the ball from a line-out.
Williams raced to score at the center of the post as his try was converted by Naima Fuala’au for a 7-0 lead.
However, Shujaa responded in the third minute of the game, Taabu identifying a gap from a scrum in the middle of the field to offload the ball to a waiting Otieno who raced on to score the equalising try. 7-7 score line heading to the intervals.
Williams however would sidestep the Kenya defence to pass the ball to unmarked Malacchi Esdale through and the latter raced clear to score a converted try.
On return from the break, Taabu spotted a gap off the scrum, as he quickly picked the ball from the scrum to score on the left side of the try box.
The fly half would be at it again soon after the break, with Taabu offloading the ball to a charging Otieno for his second try of the day that was converted for a 19-14 lead.
Kenya held on to win the match and will meet Ireland in the semi-finals stage.
Ireland were forced to work harder to eliminate Hong Kong in a match that had to be decided in the sudden death. Ireland qualifying for the semi-finals stage.
