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Olindi brace lifts Kenya Shujaa into Dubai 7s quarters
Kenya Morans' Johnstone Olindi evades a tackle during their Tusker Safari 7s semi-final match against Russia Academy RFUEA grounds on October 20, 2019.
What you need to know:
- Shujaa, who opened their campaign with losses to Australia (21-14) and USA (24-21), destroyed the Canadians with tries from Johnstone Olindi (two), Alvin “Buffa” Otieno and Edmund Anya as Anthony Omondi. Olindi added the extras.
- Both Kenya and Canada took to the field needing a win to keep their hopes of reaching the quarter-final alive as the third best sides.
Kenya Shujaa ended their five-match losing streak with a clinical 26-14 win against Canada in their last Pool “B” fixture to storm the quarter-final of the second Dubai tournament in the 2021-2022 World Rugby Sevens Series on Friday.
Shujaa, who opened their campaign with losses to Australia (21-14) and USA (24-21), destroyed the Canadians with tries from Johnstone Olindi (two), Alvin “Buffa” Otieno and Edmund Anya as Anthony Omondi. Olindi added the extras.
Both Kenya and Canada took to the field needing a win to keep their hopes of reaching the quarter-final alive as the third best sides.
Canada, who had lost 33-14 when they met Kenya during the 2021 Series season-ending leg in Edmonton in September and had suffered back-to-back defeats against the same side in Dubai in 2017 (29-15) and 2016 (22-14), were first off the blocks with a try from Brennig Prevost converted by Cooper Coats in the second minute.
Omondi levelled the scores 7-7 after converting Buffa’s fourth minute try before Olindi gave coach Innocent “Namcos” Simiyu’s side a 14-7 halftime lead from his own converted try in the sixth minute.
Thomas Isherwood’s try converted by Coats brought the scores to 14-all with five minutes left on the clock. A knock-on by Canada near Kenya’s five-metre reduced anxious moments for Kenya.
Aware only a victory would revive their hopes for quarter-finals and benefitting from Cody Nhanala being sin-binned, Shujaa fought hard to return in front courtesy of a try from Edmund Anya with 1:34 before Olindi scored a brilliant try at the death.
Olindi added the twos for Shujaa’s first win in six matches after being on the receiving end against Fiji, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia and USA in their last five matches since Dubai Sevens I quarter-final last weekend.
Kenya’s win over Canada saw them complete the group stage matches in third place, tied on five points with Pool “C” third-placed side Spain but with a good points’ difference.
Australia won Pool “B” by defeating the USA as they both qualified automatically for the last eight.
Argentina and France booked their quarter-final tickets from Pool “C”, while South Africa and Great Britain made the last eight from Pool “A” which is yet to complete its day one matches.
