NAIROBI, Kenya, March 29 – Kenya will play Scotland in the Bowl quarter-finals of the seventh round of HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong after defending champions Fiji hammered them 43-5 in their last Pool A match on Saturday to end Paul Treu dreams of making it a fifth Main Cup quarters.
Treu charges only managed to win one match against Sri Lanka in their Group before shockingly losing to Wales 10-7 and Fiji completed their misery to see the South African fail to repeat last season’s performance in Hong Kong where Kenya reached the Cup semis.
Needing to win against the defending champions and Tokyo 7s winners after their Welsh disaster, Kenya were against it after only managing a single win in 24 meetings against the marauding Fijians.
This season’s leading try scorer Samisoni Viriviri, took his tally to 37 after he powered through to break the deadlock before Waisea Nacuqu, missed the conversion.
With Kenya poor marking in the center Setefano Cakau found space to beat the backs and touch down for Waisea to kick the ball through the post to extend the lead to 12-0.
Viriviri notched a brace before Pio Tuwai ensured his name is in the score sheet as Osea Kolinisau missed the conversion for a 24-0 score line to see Fiji pass 100 points for the weekend in the first-half.
There was no difference for Treu troops on resumption as Ben Ryan’s side looked favorites to defend their title when Cakau claimed his brace before Kolinisau crossed the line to extend the lead.
Worse was to come for Kenya who missed most of their tackles and poor defence to see Viriviri complete his hat-trick from the left flank before Nacuqu converted to seal victory with the only bright spot in another limp performance being the celebration of the first try for debutant Max Theuri.
In the earlier match against Wales, Treu charges failed to take advantage of their first win over Sri Lanka after errors in tackles cost them despite enjoying possession.
Samuel Cross punished them and give Wales the opener at the corner for a 5-0 lead to the breather after Ross Jones failed to convert his kick.
Shujaa corrected their mistakes in the last half with skipper Andrew Amonde tightening the back but Lee Williams threatened when he found space to run through three Kenyans and ground but the referee cancelled his effort.
Michael Agevi, eventually broke through to restore parity before his elder brother and vice captain Collins Injera, converted to take charge with a 7-5.
The lead could not last as Kenya were left to rue after conceding a penalty which Wales utilized well through Cross who went over in the corner to seal the crucial 10-7 win.
Wales beat Sri Lanka 47-12 to meet New Zealand in the Cup last four before Fiji takes on USA on Sunday.
