Sevens team sneak to Singapore quarters

RUGBYU-SEVENS-KEN-NZ Nelson Oyook of Kenya holds the ball during the USA Sevens tournament Rugby match Kenya vs New Zealand, part of the World Rugby Sevens Series, on March 3, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. / AFP PHOTO / David BECKER

Singapore champs Kenya sail through after win over Samoa

The quarterfinal in Singapore is the second under coach Simiyu.

Kenya Sevens are on course to successfully defending the Singapore Sevens Cup if their day one performance of the eighth leg of the 2016/17 HSBC Sevens World Series is anything to go by.

Shujaa booked a Main Cup quarterfinal date with Group B winners England today after winning two of their Group C matches at the National Stadium, in Singapore, yesterday.

This was Kenya’s second quarterfinal under Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu this season after the Cape Town Sevens in December.

“We had a disappointing game two but I am glad we bounced back quickly.

“We have all eyes on the prize now. We’ll have to come out will all guns blazing against England tomorrow (today,” Kenya winger Frank Wanyama told The Standard Sports from Singapore. Kenya started their tournament defence campaign on a winning note by beating Argentina 22-7 before falling 29-7 to eventual group winners Australia.

However, the East African side bounced back to defeat Samoa 17-7 in their decisive final group match to secure a quarterfinal berth after Australia thumped Argentina 19-7.

Like a wounded lion, the defending champions terrorised Argentina in the opening match with Kenya Harlequin winger Frank Wanyama grounding a brace, while exciting youngster Nelson Oyoo and experienced Dennis Ombachi scored a try each.

However, it was a different scenario in the second game as Australia nearly quashed Kenya’s quarterfinal hopes after beating them 29-7.

Kenya broke through the Aussies’ defence for its consolation try with a strong run up the sideline by Oyoo, eliciting memories of the performance which won them last year’s Singapore title.

Unlike their first two opening matches, Shujaa had to rally from behind to beat Samoa (17-7), who were reduced to five men after two of their players were sin-binned in the second half.

Samoa took the lead through Gordon Langkilde’s converted try, but captain Andrew Amonde drew level to make the scores 7-7 at halftime.

On resumption, Billy Odhiambo and Oyoo scored a try each to propel Kenya to their second quarterfinal since December in Cape Town.

Meanwhile, following their impressive victory in previous week, Olympic champions Fiji continued their winning streak at the pool stages in Singapore yesterday.