Nelson Oyoo in action against Uganda at the Dubai Sevens on Friday 1 December 2017
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 2 – The national Sevens team collected 10 points in the opening leg of the 2017-18 HSBC Sevens World Series season after finishing eighth in Dubai 7s on Saturday.
This is after they fell 12-19 to Australia in the 5th place semis to end their campaign of the weekend.
Frank Wanyama and Nelson Oyoo scored Kenya’s tries in the defeat to Australia with Sammy Oliech completing one conversion.
The team however, suffered injury blows after speedy winger Collins Injera and Dennis Ombachi missing Day 2 matches with knocks.
Head coach innocent Simiyu will now turn attention to the second leg of the Series at Cape Town 7s next weekend in South Africa.
Shujaa had narrowly lost 14-12 to New Zealand in the Main Cup quarters.
Against the All Blacks, Kenya conceded a last minute try that saw them miss out a chance to play in the Main Cup semis for the first time since April 2016 when they lifted the Singapore 7s Cup.
A fine first half display from Shujaa saw them lead 12-7 at the interval after turning tables that saw New Zealand sprint straight from kick-off for Dylan Collier to ground the converted try.
Eden Agero restored parity to bring Shujaa back into the game after he snatched the fifty-fifty ball to scores under the posts for Sammy Oliech to convert.
Oliech handed Shujaa the lead after receiving the ball from kick-off to ground under the post but they missed the conversion that came back to haunt them as that was those two points were the difference in the final whistle.
A brave second half defensive effort for Shujaa was eventually cut short just before full time, Andrew Knewstubb kicking over the Shujaa defense to touch down, the ensuing conversion giving New Zealand the lead, their victory confirmed after a Shujaa handling error at the death.
In the group stages, Kenya had lost 48-5 to South Africa after beating Canada 29-15 and Uganda 29-14.
