NAIROBI, Kenya, March 24- Kenya crashed out of the Hong Kong 7s Main Cup competition after falling to England and Argentina on Saturday.
Mitch Ocholla’s side began Day 2 with a narrow 21-17 loss to England where Dan Norton completed a hat-trick of tries.
Norton notched his first a minute and a half into the match with Christian Lewis Platt converting for a 7-0 lead before the pair combined to extend the advantage further three minutes later for 14-0.
Captain Collins Injera hit back by going over and converting his own effort as Kenya halved the deficit at the break.
After Norton and Lewis Platt made matters 21-7 at the start of the second period, substitute Horace Otieno went over but Peter Ocholla missed the conversion.
Felix Ayange scored Kenya’s third try to bring down the score to 21-17 with Injera missing the chance to pile on the pressure when he sent his effort over.
Ben Ryan’s side held on for the nervous victory as Kenya’s Main Cup quarters hopes went up in smoke having lost their Group A opener on Friday.
In their last match against Argentina, Ocholla’s charges trailed 14-0 at the breather after converted tries from Nicholas Bruzzone and Francisco Merello pegged Kenya back.
Gaston Revol scored his side’s third try with Valentin Cruz missing the conversion before Kenya hit back after Injera went over with Nato Simiyu pushing the point tally to the final score of 19-7.
USA Sevens champions Samoa ended proceedings on day with a 14-12 victory against England in the Pool A decider.
Paul Perez scored on the stroke of half time before Alafoti Fa’osiliva’s effort in the second half, but it was Tom Mitchell’s missed conversion after Rob Vickerman had opened the scoring that proved decisive.
Stephan Betham’s side began their Hong Kong Sevens campaign with a 19-7 victory against Kenya thanks to tries from Ken Pisi, Paul Perez and Alatasi Tupou before Afa Aiono scored twice in their 27-0 victory against Argentina.