Kenya 15’s rugby team defeats Hong Kong 24-18 at Impala grounds

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

The Kenya national 15’s team yesterday showed a spirited performance at the Impala grounds by beating visiting team Hong Kong 24-18 in a much anticipated rugby match.

The Kenyan team who are popularly known as “The Simbas” managed to push from an 8-3 score to bring the game to half time at 11-10 and went on to engage in a higher gear in the second half taking the scores to 24-11 before the visitors scored a late converted try for a futile comeback.

Popular Hong Kong skipper Nick Hewson admitted they lost to a better Kenyan side but promised they will bounce back in the second match on Saturday which will be a full test match affecting the current standings.

The game was particularly interesting after the second half as Kenya immediately started with a punch, Onsomu showing a clean pair of heels with some good kicking pace from a turnover defying the slippery nature of the pitch to dot down for a 15-10 Kenya lead. Masai converted making the score go up to 17-10.

Kenya’s 15’s team captain Kuto then pulled up one of his trademark runs, pacing down on the left straight from a line out deep in Kenya’s half and diving down to stretch the score to 22-11, Masai taking it two further to 24 after converting.

The Hong Kong team later made two late scores but it was too late as the hosts Kenya had already held an early lead to win the match.