Dubai 7s: Kenya thrash Japan to finish third

Alvin Otieno of Morans celebrates scoring against South Africa during their Tusker Safari Sevens 2019 tournament match at RFUEA Grounds on October 20, 2019. Morans 19-14. [Photo/Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Vincent Onyala and Alvin Otieno each scored a brace as Kenya Sevens finished third at the first leg of the 2021 Emirates Dubai Invitational Sevens tournament that ended on Saturday evening at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

Shujaa defeated Japan 26-14 in the third-place playoffs to cap a very irregular performance at Dubai event where they registered mixed results since day one of the event on Friday.

KCB’s Vincent Onyala and Alvin Otieno each bagged a brace in addition to Bush Mwale try to finish the first leg event on a high note.

Alvin Otieno fended off two Japanese defenders to make his way to the try line with Daniel Taabu converting for a 7-0 lead.

The Asians responded to tie the scores at 7-7 before Otieno turned provider after offloading to Onyala who landed Kenya’s second try. Johnstone Olindi sliced the posts successfully for a 14-7 lead.

Kenya pulled away with a beautiful third team try which saw the ball exchange hands through  Olindi, Taabu, Mwale, Ambaka, Taabu again before Mwale crossed over the white wash.

Onyala completed his brace to stretch the lead to 26-7 with an unconverted try before Otieno completed the route with a late try for a 31-14 win.

Kenya had lost 17-5 to France with their only try coming through Daniel Taabu as France sailed through to the finals and kenya slipping down to the third place playoffs.

Before that, Shujaa started their day two campaign with a tight 21-19 win over Canada to sail through the semifinals.

Kenya Sevens Vincent Onyala (left) sprints past USA opponent during Madrid 7s. [Courtesy]

Mwamba RFC’s star Daniel Taabu scored a brace with KCB’s Johnstone Olindi sealing the win against the North American side who also scored three tries but failed to convert one.

Kenya got off to a bright start on the opening day of the two-day tournament after thrashing Chile 39-7 with Nelson Oyoo, Willy Ambaka, Harold Anduvate, Jeff Oluoch, Johnstone Olindi and Jacob Ojee all crossing over the whitewash for the bug win.

Shujaa then forced a disappointing 19-19 draw with France in their second Pool Blue match before compounding their poor form with a shocking 15-14 defeat to Spain.

The result saw the East African giants finish third in their pool behind leaders France and Spain.

Willy Ambaka and Daniel Taabu each finished with three tries to emerge top performers at the two day event as Onyala and Otieno finished with two tries.

Kenya will go again next week when the second leg of the Dubai event gets underway on April 9.

Kenya 7s Results at Dubai 7s

Third place playoffs

Kemya 31-14 Japan

Semifinals

Kenya 5-17 France

Quarterfinals

Kenya 21-19 Canada

Pool Matches

Kenya 39-7 Chile

Kenya 19-19 France

Kenya 14-15 Spain