Despite winning only one match, Shujaa sneaks into Dubai 7s quarters as one of the best two number three teams. They will face off with giants Fiji in the final Cup quarter on the second day of the tournament.
Shujaa lost twice, going down 14-7 to Mike Friday-coached USA then went on to lose by a one try margin in a 22-17 defeat to Argentina. However, the Kenyan lads bounced back to beat Spain 26-12 and with results from other groups going in their favour, they just but sneaked into the Cup quarters.
All you need to know.
In the opening match of the tournament, Shujaa had rallied from 7-0 down to tie the game 7-7, but a slight lapse in concentration saw the USA clinch a match-winning converted try.
Steve Tomasin gave the Americans the lead when he crossed over and went on to slice the posts for a 7-0 lead. They kept this lead to the halftime break.
Right at the start of the second half, Shujaa got back into the game when Herman Humwa crossed over after Daniel Taabu had sprinted down the middle before a tackle from Perrey Baker brought him down.
However, Kenya was awarded a set piece for an unfair tackle and Humwa did the quick thinking to tap the ball and jump ver into the try box.
After Shujaa sneaks into Dubai 7s quarters, he was in high spirit to clinch victory in the game but were caught out when Logan Tago dotted their second try of the game with a powered run on the right with Tomasin converting.
It was a similar case of too close too late in the second match of the day as Shujaa rallied from 12-0 down, but couldn’t make the comeback across the line.
Argentina led 12-0 early on off Luciano Gonzalez’s early double one of which was converted by Santiago Vera Feld.
Shujaa players before a match at the Safari Sevens
But, Shujaa squeezed the gap just before halftime when the ever-impressive Alvin ‘Buffa’ Otieno dotted down off a Humwa offload. They were level up at 12-12 when Levy Amunga sliced through the Argentine backline to dot down under the posts before adding the twos to go to the break at par.
Final match stats
At the start of the second half, Shujaa were in flying mode and they took the lead when Humwa once again did the dirty work to offload to Jeff Oluoch who strolled down for a 17-12 lead, but the conversion sailed wide.
But, once again, Shujaa lost a bit of concentration and the Argentines found a wat back with less than a minute and a half to play. German Schulz grounded in the left corner to draw Argentina level.
Shujaa’s sight at victory suffered a blow when they had to play the final minute of the game with a man down when Otieno was sent to the sin bin and the South Americans took full advantage with Santiago Alvarez dotting down.
IN the final match of day one and with hopes of a Cup Quarter berth still very much alive, Shujaa didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes, but once again had to come from down.
Eduardo Lopez dotted down with Juan Martinez slicing the posts to give the Spaniards a 7-0 early lead. However, Johnstone Olindi crossed over with Amunga converting as the two sides went to the break level at 7-7.
In the second half, Shujaa came back better and Humwa added the second try with Billy ‘The Kid’ Odhiambo crossed over twice with Anthony Omondi converting both as the Kenyan boys took the lead. However, Juan Ramos took Spain back to the game with their second try of the day but it counted for less as Kenya secured the win.
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