The Kenya Lionesses team posing for a photo after qualifying for the Dubai 7s quarters.PHOTO/KRU
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 1 – The national women’s sevens team are through to the Main Cup quarter-final after beating Ireland Women Development side 20-12 in Dubai Sevens on Thursday.
The Kenya Lionesses will now face Tabusoro Angels in a match to be played on Friday at 8:40am Kenyan time at The Sevens Stadium.
The team coached by Kevin Wambua bounced back from a 14-19 loss against Poland to edge out Tribe Sevens 14-7 and keep their cup title ambitions in the International Invitational Women’s Category at the Dubai Sevens alive.
Stung by the Poles in their second pool B fixture, the Lionesses came into this match like a wounded Lioness getting the better of the Tribe on offense and defense, landing their tries through captain Philadelphia Olando and Sheila Chagira.
In the opening match, the Lionesses beat Belgium 17-12 to start their campaign on the high.
It was a closely fought contest but the Lionesses managed to squeeze through and start on a positive note.
Olando unconverted effort gave the Lionesses a 5-0 lead before the Belgians briefly led the Kenyans with a converted effort.
It took a turn of speed from Janet Okello to touch down and give the Lionesses the lead with Janet Owino adding the conversion for a 12-7 lead at the break.
Okello’s second try in mid second half saw the Lionesses go 17-7 up, Belgium landing at the death, an inconsequential touchdown as the Kenyans started their campaign on a winning note.
