NAIROBI, Kenya, May 4- Paul Treu finally managed to get one over his former employers, South Africa, as Kenya’s spirited run at the Glasgow 7s ended with a deflating 26-5 loss to England in the Plate Finals on Sunday.
A vastly improved Shujaa failed to nail a place in the Main Cup semi final earlier in the day after losing 14-5 to Canada in the last eight but after coming unstuck against the Blitzbokke four times this season, Treu led his charges to a 14-7 win in a draining Plate semi.
That set up a decider against England and the fatigue told as they slumped to a 26-0 reverse before Tony Owour’s last minute try salvaged some pride.
James Rodwell and Dan Norton fired England to a 14-0 advantage in the first half before further tries from Norton and Marcus Watson sealed the win.
Treu, who had earlier stated the last four would be his target for the penultimate HSBC World Series round fell just short at the hands of the Canadians after scrapping through from a tough Group C on Saturday.
That set up a meeting against his former side and they duly registered their second win of the tournament after walloping Argentina 33-19 their last pool encounter.
After loses to the Blitzbokke in Dubai, Port Elizabeth, Las Vegas and Japan, recalled veteran Humphrey Kayange scored two first half tries with Biko Adema converting for a 14-0 lead at the break to illustrate he is not a spent force yet.
Justin Geduld scored the consolation for the Blitzbokke in extra time to put the gross on the score line.
In the Main Cup quarters, Kenya conceded two tries in the first-half as Mike Scholz and Harry Jones went over twice in the opening two minutes and they held on to lead 14-0 at the break after both efforts were converted.
Stand-in captain Collins Injera once again proved his prowess giving Kenya the consolation on resumption to increase his chances of finishing among the top three highest try scorers this season.
Injera slipped into elder brother Humphrey Kayange’s inside pass to sprint and touch down under the posts for his 187th career try but missed his conversion as Canada solidified made the semis.
France beat Argentina 20-14 to lift the Bowl as Wales thrashed Japan 29-12 to be crowned Shield winners.
Kenya travel to the season closing London 7s at Twickenham hoping to wrap up their campaign on a high next weekend.
