Shujaa run away from Canada in Hong Kong

RugbyU: Fiji tops Kenya to win Vancouver Sevens Kenya's Willy Ambaka (R) runs with the ball to score a try during the HSBC Canada Men's Sevens in BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, B.C.Canada, March 11, 2018. Vancouver is the 6th round, played March 10-11, 2018, in the HSBC Men's Sevens 10 round world series. / AFP PHOTO

 

William Ambaka scored his 100th World Series try as Kenya thrashed Canada 33-10 in yesterday’s opening Group B match of the Hong Kong Sevens, the seventh round of the Series, at Hong Kong Stadium.

Canada went ahead through Connor Braid’s unconverted try, but the on-form recent Vancouver Sevens runners-up responded immediately with Samuel Oliech levelling the scores on restart.

Andrew Amonde would land Kenya’s second try next to the posts with Oliech adding the extras to hand Innocent Simiyu’s men a 12-5 lead to the break.

Kenya were then reduced to six men after Nelson Oyoo was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on. Canada capitalised on their numerical advantage with Harry Jones setting up Pat Kay for a second unconverted try.

But Shujaa showed character with all-time top try scorer Collins Injera grounding a converted try before Ambaka accelerated over to ground his 100th try on the World Sevens Series to make the scores 26-10.

Oyoo made the amends for his earlier sending off when he perfectly touched down to seal Kenya’s victory.

The former Singapore Sevens champions will be seeking  second and third wins of the tournament when they take on Spain today at 8.10am and Australia at 11.10am.

Meanwhile, Kenya Lionesses hopes of qualifying for the Women’s Sevens World Series as a core team suffered a major blow after losing 12-7 to South Africa in yesterday’s qualifiers semi-finals.

Zenay Jordaan put South Africa ahead with a converted try four minutes into the second half, but Janet Okello brought Kenyans back into the game, with Doreen Remour successfully converting it to tie the scores heading into the extra time.

However, Zinhle Ndawonde broke Kenyans’ hearts when she touched down the winning try two and a half minutes into sudden death.