Kenya Sevens hit Britain to finish seventh in Cape Town
Kenya Sevens' Nygel Amaitsa (left) charges past Germany's Jakob Dipper during their Safari 7s semi-final match on November 19, 2023 at RFUEA ground.
Kenya Sevens staged a six-try performance, downing Great Britain 32-17 to finish seventh at Cape Town Sevens on Sunday. Kenya collected seven points for the 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens Series.
It was an improved performance from Shujaa, who had finished 10th in the previous leg in Dubai to get three points as they bullied the Britons to submission after leading 22-5 at the break.
Patrick Odongo and Nygel Amaitsa landed a brace of tries each while co-captain George Ooro and Samuel Asati managed one each to dismantle the Britons.
Earlier, Amaitsa had converted Odongo and Kevin Wekesa’s tries but lost to Argentina 26-14 in the fifth-place semi-final play-offs. The Britons had lost to New Zealand 21-17 in the other semi.
Argentina, who settled for bronze in Dubai, went on to stop All Blacks Sevens 17-12 to finish fifth.
In the main Cup semi-finals, Shujaa’s Pool B winners Spain hit a dead-end in their second consecutive semi-final appearance, losing to South Africa 19-12 as France stopped Dubai Sevens champions Fiji 19-17 in the other Cup semi.
South Africa and France, who were Shujaa’s opponents at the pool stage in Dubai, lost in the Cup quarter-finals in the Middle East event.
It’s Anthony Omondi, who set the ball rolling to put Ooro through as he beat his markers on the blind side to land as Amaitsa added the extras to lead 7-0.
Shujaa proved ferocious in attack with Amaitsa offloading to Odongo as the speedster sliced through for the second try before sealing a double to extend the lead to 17-0.
Shujaa got a penalty and Asati gave it a quick tap and dummied the Britons' defence before running clear to score for a comfortable 22-0 lead even as Sunni Jardine dotted down to score for Great Britain, who trailed 22-5 at the break.
Matt Davidson converted his own try for Great Britain to narrow the gap to 22-12 but Amaitsa’s individual brilliance manifested when he chipped over before chasing down the ball to score for 27-12 lead.
Luke Mehson pulled one for Great Britain to inch close 22-17 but Amaitsa completed his brace to lock the game for Shujaa 32-17.
The series will take a break before resuming with the third leg in Perth, Australia on January 24 to 26 next year.
