Kenya Sevens captain Collins Injera with the ball during the Singapore 7s where Kenya stunned Fiji 30-7 to lift their first ever Main Cup title.Photo/IRB
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 21 – Kenya’s vice captain Collins Injera equaled Satiego Gomez Cora at the top of the all-time try-scoring charts after touching down twice in Shujaa’s 12-24 defeat against Scotland in the second match of Pool C at the final leg of the 2015-16 HSBC Sevens World Series in London on Saturday.
Playing in front of his dad and mum at a packed Twickenham Stadium, Injera now needs one more try to add on his 230 career try to write history as the first African to hold the all-time top try-scorers record.
Kenya, who sits third on four points in Pool C, will now need to win their last preliminary fixture against a strong France side to advance to the Main Cup quarter-final.
Scotland were too hot to handle, starting on a high and punishing Kenya on their schoolboy mistakes.
James Johnstone got Scotland off to a dream start after only 30 seconds before Damien Hoyland claimed the restart perfectly to leave Kenya on the back foot for the second match running in London.
It could have got worse when Jamie Farndale charged down the right wing, but Injera pulled off an incredible try-saving tackle to hold the ball up.
Scott Riddell, in his 50th series tournament, went over from a quickly-taken penalty to extend the lead.
Kenya pulled one back when veteran Humphrey Kayange broke clear to easily give his younger brother the present of a 229th series try.
Kenya camped in the Scotland half on resumption but could not find a way through to set up a tense finale.
Team Great Britain wider squad member Mark Robertson hacked on twice before gathering the ball to score the try that put the match beyond the Singapore champions.
However, Injera not only reduced the deficit for Kenya but reached a milestone as he grounded his 230th career try to level Cora at the top of the all-time try-scoring charts, much to the delight of his parents watching from the stands.
In the opening match, Kenya had to make a dramatic comeback in the second half to beat Portugal 22-17.
Injera touched down the only try in the opening half to inch closer on breaking Cora’s record.
In the second half, Oscar Ayodi scored twice to lead Shujaa’s comeback before Frank Wanyama sealed the win to hand the Benjamin Ayimba side a winning start.
