Simbas go down to USA's Eagles

Kenya Simbas will have to win their remaining two matches to stand a chance of qualifying for the World Cup after a poor start at the Final Qualification Tournament (Repechage) qualifiers yesterday where they lost 68-14 to the Eagles of United States at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

Dylan Fawsitt and Christian Dyer scored a hattrick of tries each while Jamason Schultz, Nathaniel Augspurger, Mike Sosene Feagai and Mitch Wilson each getting into the score sheet for a bonus point win that puts USA right on track to next year's global games set for France

Brian Juma and Joshua Weru scored Kenya's consolation tries that Drawin Mukidza converted in the defeat that leaves Paul Odera's men with a huge mountain to claim if they are to qualify for their maiden World Cup appearance.

Fawsitt gave the Americans a deserved 5-0 lead in the 22nd minute after catching the one-man less Kenyan defense (Geoffrey Okwach sin binned) sleeping from a lineout before adding another try off a maul that was converted by Luke Carty for a 12-0 lead.

Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz who was denied a 10th minute opener after his touchdown was reviewed and cancelled ensured the USA took a comfortable 19-0 lead into the break after bulldozing his way through four Kenyan defenders to score near the posts. Carty added the extras.

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In the final half, Odera's charges found the going even tougher after Fawsitt grabbed his hattrick before Christian Dyer added three more tries to Augspurger, Feagai and Wilson tries for the 68-14 win.

Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and the USA all hope to finish top of the standings at the end of the round-robin tournament on November 18.

In the end, the team accruing the most competition points in the four team tournament will secure the 20th and final spot at the global games set to be held in France where they will take their place in Group C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.

Simbas now have to defeat Portugal, a familiar foe, this coming weekend.

The Simbas mauled Portugal 41-15 in an international friendly match in Nairobi in 2017.

Elsewhere, Kenya Sevens ended the first leg of the 2022-2023 World Sevens Series without a win after losing all their six matches in Hong Kong over the weekend.

Shujaa only managed to squeeze a point from the Hong Kong Sevens leg when they lost to New Zealand 43-0 in the Challenge Trophy quarterfinals before shockingly going down to Uruguay 10-7 in the semifinal of the 13th place finish yesterday.

Shujaa began the season on the wrong foot on Friday when they lost 28-12 to Ireland before going down to Argentina (26-7) and Canada (19-14) to drop to the Challenge Trophy quarterfinal.

Shujaa finished last in the event alongside hosts Hong Kong.

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