Hong Kong cage Kenya’s Simbas: Visitors exert revenge, sneak away with 43-34 win

KENYA VS HONGKONG RUGBY Kenya's Oliver Mang'eni beat Hong Kong players during their test series at RFUEA grounds, Nairobi on Saturday 26/08/17.[Boniface Okendo]

Basic errors cost Kenyans in Test Series at RFUEA Grounds.

School boy errors cost Kenya Simbas dearly as the national 15s rugby team suffered a 43-34 loss to Hong Kong in the second leg Test Series match at RFUEA Grounds, Nairobi, yesterday.

It was a sweet revenge for the visiting Asian side, who lost last year’s two legged tie before holding Simbas fringe team to a 19-19 draw last weekend.

Hong Kong capitalised on Kenya’s defensive errors to score an early third minute penalty and maintained the lead until the final whistle despite the hosts’ spirited comeback fight.

“We expected to end our home season on a high, but that never came to be. They had two quick tries, the boys tried and gave in their all in the second half but it was a bit too late,” said Simbas Captain Wilson Kopondo after the match.

“We had a lot of basic errors the entire game. After watching last weekend’s game, we knew they would come back much stronger and hard on us. We defended the entire first half and made the second half difficult for us.

“It is a good learning experience. We now need to go back to the drawing board and prepare well for the Four Nations Cup in December.”

Darwin Mukidza drew level in less than two minutes through a penalty after Hong Kong’s opening penalty.

Ten minutes later, Matthew Rosslee scored another penalty for Hong Kong to make the scores 6-3.

Marcus Ramage would extend the lead with a third penalty for the visitors before their good defending denied KCB utility back Peter Kilonzo his debut try.

Mukidza then reduced the deficit with another penalty (6-9) before Kyle Sullivan grounded a converted try on the stroke of halftime to make it 16-6.

James Cunningham would score a penalty five minutes after the break to open a 13-point gap over the hosts.

Dayne Janes then capitalised on Kenya’s defensive error to score the second try for Hong Kong before Mathew Rosslee added the extras to put the game beyond the hosts’ reach.

Veteran Alex NG Wai-shing made the scores 33-6 after touching down a third converted try for the Asian nation.

Moments later, Tony Onyango raced down the right flank to pull back a converted try for the scores to stand 13-33 before Samson Onsumu grounded a well converted try to make it 20-33.

However, substitute Dan Barlow would score the fifth penalty for Hong Kong to go up 36-20. Davis Chenge then touched down with his KCB teammate Mukidza successfully converting it to make the scores 27-36.

However, defensive lapse allowed Nick Hewson to take the scores 43-27 before Mukidza reduced the deficit by going over and converting his own try.