Kenya Shujaa retain Safari Sevens title
Rugby
By
Washington Onyango
| Oct 13, 2024
Kenya Shujaa's George Ooro in action against Moran during the 25th edition of Safari 7s at Machakos Stadium. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
Shujaa are the 2024 Safari Sevens champions.
The national rugby sevens outfit were crowned champions after edging out Shogun Rugby formerly Samurai Rugby 12-0 in a tight final played at Machakos Stadium on Sunday.
Shujaa begun the match positively with a big territory kick that pushed Kenya on an early attack.
Hard hitting George Ooro brushed aside two Shogun defenders to stroll to the try box but was denied by a late tackle after show-boating rather than grounding the ball.
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The restart saw Shujaa reclaim possession again but a surging Patrick Odongo would be stopped in the left wing with a counter-rack seeing Shogun reclaiming possession.
A knock on from the restart granted Shujaa possession with Samwel Asati opting for a line out, a set piece Shujaa lost after the referee awarded a scrum to Shogun after the lineout throw not being straight.
The defensive Shogun survived one more attack as they held off Kenya to a 0-0 half time stalemate.
In the final half, Odongo got the fans at Machakos Stadium up their feet after beating his two markers on the left wing to score at the corner.
A conversion attempt by Dennis Abukuse sailed wide as Kenya led 5-0.
Odongo turned from hero to a problem for Shujaa after being sent to the bin with two minutes left, forcing the hosts to play with six men.
Despite being a man down, Shujaa stunned Shogun after a quick tap and go from Asati caught the Shogun defense napping as Ben Salem finished off the offload for a center post try that was converted by Abukuse for a 12-0 win.
Shujaa scrum half Samwel Asati was thereafter named the player of the tournament