Shujaa survive despite disastrous IRB season

Kenya's Jeff Oluoch (right) is tackled by USA's Martin Iosefo during the HSBC Paris Sevens Series rugby quarterfinals match at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris yesterday. [AFP]

Having put up a below-par performance for the better part of the season, Kenya’s national Sevens team rose to the occasion when relegation loomed large at the final leg of the World Sevens Series in Paris over the weekend.

Perhaps spurred by the prospect of losing their core status, Shujaa, who had not progressed to the Cup quarter-finals this season, broke that hoodoo by advancing to the last eight from a tough-looking pool B which had London Sevens silver medalists Australia, Singapore Sevens champions South Africa and Wales.

The feat saw them avoid the chop after the other relegation-threatened teams Japan and Wales failed to go past the pool stage.

With survival assured, Kenya faced USA in the quarter-finals yesterday, a match which saw the East Africans blow away a 14-0 advantage to lose 26-14.

The Paul Murunga-coached side was then relegated to the fifth place semi-finals where they lost 26-21 to hosts France. The clash was decided in sudden death following a 21-21 stalemate in regulation time.

Kenya thus finished seventh at the Paris tournament, ending the season with 37 points, 67 shy of last season tally. Against the USA, two converted tries in the first half by Homeboyz youngster Johnstone Olindi and winger Nelson Oyoo saw Kenya take control of the tie at half-time before they were undone by lapses of concentration in the second half.

An infringement by the Americans deep in their territory earned Kenya a penalty and from the resulting scrum, the ball was played out wide, allowing Olindi to win possession from a ruck before diving between the sticks for the opening try of the match.

Kenya were soon 14-0 up as Jeffrey Oluoch beat his markers for pace before setting up the Nakuru RFC man Oyoo who had an easy stroll to the try line.

The USA hit back through Steve Tomasin, who scored an unconverted try under pressure from Vincent Onyala before Olindi gifted the Americans possession as his attempted kick into touch lacked enough power.

The error was punished as Kevon Williams crossed the whitewash for USA’s second try which saw them trail by two points at halftime. Matai Leuta and Madison Hughes then scored two converted tries in succession to hand Mike Friday’s charges the win.