Kenya in losing start at Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens

Friday 9 December 2011

Kenya started the third leg of the 2011/2012 HSBC Sevens World Series, the Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens with a 31-14 Pool C loss in a match played moments ago in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Kenya’s team had three changes to the Gold Coast and Dubai squads with Philip Wamae replacing Michael Agevi who had exam commitments, and Brian Nyikuli and Leon Adongo for Horace Owiti and William Ambaka who both sustained ham-string injuries in training.

The victors would come out of the starting blocks strongest,recovering possession after losing a turnover ball to Kenya with their skipper Ed Jenkins playing in Lewis Holland who went over, converting his own try to see Australia 7-0 up. Holland would continue to pose problems for Kenya early in this match as the Australians attacked the ball with speed, posing problems for Mitch Ocholla’s side.

With Kenya penalized following an infringement, the Australians played the ball wide, setting up Greg Jeloudev to score in the corner. His unconverted try putting Australia 12-0 before Jenkins went over with Hamish Angus converted to see his side take a 19-0 lead into the breather.

Kenya would come alive in the second half, and were rewarded with an Oscar Ouma try a minute into the half. Captain Sidney Ashioya would convert to see his side trail 19-7. With Kennedy Moseti converting Leon Adongo’s try, Kenya were five points adrift, within touching distance as they trailed Australia 19-14 .

Kenya in previous action at the 2009 IRB Sevens World Cup

A tough penalty call against Kenya that would have seen the scores at least tie instead resulted in Australia’s Jordan Tuapou score a converted try and Pama Fou added another with the final play, again from a Kenyan penalty for a 31-14 result. All in all Australia’s discipline, where they conceded no penalties to Kenya’s five saw them win a game that could have gone either way.