FALSE START FOR KENYA: 7s team register only two wins in IRB Seven series opening leg

Kenya's Billy Odhiambo vies with France's Terry Bouhraoua (C) and Jeremy Aicardi during the World Rugby Men's Seven Series match between Kenya and France on December 2, 2016 in Dubai. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

National Sevens rugby team ended their first World Rugby Sevens Series outing with only two wins out of their five in Dubai yesterday.

After winning only a match at the group stage, Kenyans had to make do with a run for the Challenge Trophy previously known as the Bowl. The pressure to beat Canada was immense, as the boys walked from the tunnel to cheers from the Kenyan fans who are known to ask for more than just a win.

From the whistle, coach Innocent Simiyu’s charges did not take any chances. Cyprian Kuto went straight to the try line to give Kenya a 5-0 lead.

Augustine Lugonzo followed suit thanks to Kuto’s good hands.

The Canadians pulled a scare just after restart with a converted try but sensational Nelson Oyoo had lots in store for his opponents. In his classic sprinting style, Oyoo, who missed the Rio Olympic Games sent a message home with a turn of speed to extend Kenya’s lead before Brian Tanga’s conversion.

When the visually confused Canadians lost possession deep in Kenyan territory, Leonard Mugaisi picked the gift and went straight to score. At the end of it all, it was 22 for Kenya against Canada’s 14.

At the semi final stage, Kenya was up against former Shujaa coaches Mike Friday and Chris Brown’s United States of America. Perry Baker, the American keen at breaking Collins Injera’s historic try record made his intentions known from the onset by tactically ducking past Kenyan defence to offload to teammate Danny Barrett.

Baker received the ball back and he once more offloaded to Hughes. Hughes made mince meat of the helpless Kenyans with a classic touch down which he duly converted.

But William Ambaka responded by shaking off Folau Niua’s strong challenge to score his fourth try in Dubai. Then Oyoo gave the fans some glimpse of optimism with an outstanding try to send the Kenyan fans into a frenzy.

The Kenyan flag was flying high with SportPesa jerseys and colours the only https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images visible then.

But all the glamour was short-lived, not even a last-minute try from on song Ambaka nick named ‘Kenyan Lomu’, could stop the Americans from going past Kenya to book a date with Samoa in the Challenge Trophy final.

It was terrifying and heartbreaking to Simiyu and the team. The game ended 19-21 in favour of the Americans, but would Simiyu be haunted by the decision to drop Collins Injera, Biko Adema and Oscar Ouma?

“We have experienced players back at home who we want to integrate slowly,” Simiyu told reporters as they walked to the dressing room.