NAIROBI, Kenya, May 6 – Sidney Ashioya scored a try in sudden death to help Kenya retain the Safaricom Sevens title on Sunday against Emerging Boks who they beat 17-12.Ashioya who came on for the injured Collins Injera rolled back the years when he chased down a grubber kick by Kenya vice captain Gibson Weru to score in the corner with a freak shower beating down on the Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) grounds.
“The last four legs of the IRB Sevens did not go well for us. So we had to do well to win this trophy and redeem ourselves,” said Weru.
“The weather affected our pattern of play. We couldn’t flow the ball so we opted for the kicking game which worked for us in the end,” he added.
Leon Adongo shown continued to show why his stock has risen substantially this season when he put Kenya ahead in the second minute with a well taken try.
The deluge seemed to be a god send for the South Africans who put Kenya on the front foot and were rewarded with a try at the stroke of half time to level the scores at 5-5.
Ashioya got into the act early in the second period with a chip from deep in his own half and showed his electric pace to out sprint the covering Bok defence to score in the corner.
The Boks hit back with a try midway through the half to send the cliffhanger into sudden death and eventually the victory Kenya.
Kenya’s path to the title saw them dispose of former champions Bristol University 17-15 in the quarters followed by 31-0 thumping of Shujaa.
In other results, New Zealand side Ponsonby clinched the plate final after beating Les Bleu 26-17, Argentina took the bowl after beating Zimbabwe 14-7 and Hamilton Raiders went home with the shield after beating Samurai 36-5.