By BS MULAVI

Kenya’s all-time leading try scorer Collins Injera (centre) bursts through a US cordon at the ninth and final round of the HSBC Sevens World Series in London, yesterday. [PHOTO: IRB]

Kenya’s final push in the International Rugby Board Sevens Circuit got a significant boost after they qualified for the Main Cup quarter-finals of the London Leg of the circuit.

A 22-5 victory over USA and 17-17 draw over Canada is all the team needed to make it to the next stage of the tournament.

Even though Kenya lost 19-12 to Samoa in the second match of the day, they qualified due to a better aggregate than Canada, who consequently dropped to the Bowl tournament.

In a tough contest against the two top ranked teams in the group, Canada enjoyed the bulk of possession and willbut failed to emerge victorious, in a game that Kenya preferred to kick for territory rather than keep possession.

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The approach to the game was similar throughout the whole tournament with Kenya starting their campaign on a high beating USA 22-5 after a 5-5 stalemate at half-time.

Danny Barret opened the scoring for the Americans, but Patrice Agunda neutralised after a patient build-up of play.

Revitalized side

The Kenyans came back a revitalised side in the second half and scored through Billy Odhiambo, Humphrey Kayange and Collins Injera.

In Kenya’s second game of the tournament, Paul Treu’s troops failed to have the finishing power required to finish off a side like Samoa.

From kick-off Kenya looked shaky and conceded an early try through Fautua Otto.

This was followed by another try by Tila Mealoi after Michael Wanjala of Kenya was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on, which prevented Samoa from advancing to a try scoring opportunity.

Samoa made use of the one-man advantage to take an early 12-0 lead in the game.

Kenya eventually settled in the game and after a spirited effort scored at the stroke of half-time through Collins Injera, who was registering his 189 try of his career to take the score to 12-5 at half time after Biko Adema missed on the conversion.

Kenya continued with their foray in the second half, with Odhiambo (Billy) crossing over after a long spell of possession to make the game even at 12-12.

Kenya, however, did not have the drive needed to score the third try, which they pushed for, but after a turnover ball conceded a killer blow from Tulolo Tulolo to take the game to 19-12.

Kenya pushed on but simply could not break the Samoan defense and eventually lost the game.

Treu will be happy that his side once again reached the Main Cup quarter-finals but will be eager to go further up in the tournament than their previous showing in Scotland where they were defeated in the Plate finals.

                   –––briansagala@gmail.com