Rugby: Kenya National Sevens posts dismal show in Las Vegas

Billy Odhiambo #6 of Kenya carries the ball in for a try against Portugal during the USA Sevens Rugby tournament at Sam Boyd Stadium on February 14, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kenya won 17-7. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

Erratic National Sevens team went back to the all too familiar Bowl competition in USA during the fifth leg of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World series in Las Vegas.

Kenya’s squandered chance to beat Argentina on the first day and came back to haunt them on the second as they lost 21-14 to England in the last pool game, which condemned them to the Bowl competition.

This was the fourth time in five outings this season that Kenya had failed to prove they were worthy to be in the top eight teams in the series.

More specifically any hopes of Kenya finishing in the top four remains mathematical, with only four legs remaining before the season ends.

The top four teams from the circuit will automatically qualify for the Rio Olympics, which continues to seem unlikely for Kenya. Kenya will now have to see how they can build from this stage onward.

A good start would be to make the best of their Bowl games to get as many points from there. They can continue with their quest to avoid relegation and remain a core team in the circuit.

So far Kenya beat Portugal 17-7 in the Bowl quarterfinals in Las Vegas thanks to a physical showing that saw Mwamba veteran Lavin Asego, who scored his fiftieth try of his sevens circuit career. By the time of press, Kenya were due to play Samoa for the Bowl Semi-finals on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, New Zealand proved too strong for Australia thanks to a Joe Webber hat-trick in a 28-5 win in their Main Cup quarter final while Fiji went on to meet South Africa in the first semi-final after proving too strong for France 31-12. The Blitzboks, in search of a third successive Cup win at the Sam Boyd Stadium, came from behind to beat England 21-14 thanks to tries from Branco du Preez, Seabelo Senatla and Kwagga Smith.

The USA got off to an ideal start in their quarter-final win over Canada with Danny Barrett crashing over in the corner shortly followed by tries to Folau Niua and crowd favourite Zack Test for a 15-0 lead at half time. USA speedster Carlin Isles stretched the lead to 20-0 enough to get the hosts home in front of 34,593 fans.

Four tries to Savenaca Rawaca set Fiji up for a 24-0 lead at half-time over France as the Pacific islanders turned on the flair in their quarter final.

Jean Marcellin Buttin put France on the board shortly after the break before Sitiveni Waqa added to Fiji’s lead before a late consolation to Les Blues’ Bryan Dimeck.