Day 2, Saturday March 2
Report By Maurice O. Ndole and Domiano Mussau | Photos By Maurice O. Ndole and Anthony Mbuthia-Hotseatnews.com
Kenya powers through Argentina, beating the South American nation 24-19 and knocking them from the top of Pool B table and scrambling the standings.
Kenyan try scorers were:
Cyprian Kuto, Jacob Ojee, Herman Humwa and Daniel Taabu. Taabu scored the conversion twice for Shujaa.
Shujaa now plays Japan in the Challenge Trophy quarter finals at 4.32 PM at Sam Boyd Stadium in UNLV.
Saturday March 2, 2019 Update.
Japan were the first ones to take the lead, but as they say in Kenya kutangulia sio kufika (having a head-start does not mean you will be the first one to arrive)
Cyprian Kuto responded for Shujaa soon after. Kuto outran the Japanese players, who had put a good chase and strong line defense to deny Kenyans an opportunity to make a try.
The Kenyan team suffered a setback when Charles Omondi was sent to the sin bin for an illegal tackle. But despite being shot a man, the Kenyan team kept the pressure and was a handful for the Japanese.
There was a moment of uncertainty when Daniel Taabu did not give up on chasing Naoki Motomura to the try area, tackling him and making it hard for the referee to declare it a try on the pitch. The decision went for review by television match official and a try was awarded to Japan.
Japan failed to convert all their tries, including this one.
Kameli Soejima scored a try for Japan creating a 15 -7 lead into the rest period.
It was moto moto in the second for Kenya and they were not about to lose the trophy. Taabu, Vincent Onyala, and Bush Mwale led Shujaa into dominating the Japanese, freezing them at 15 points.
The final score was Kenya 28 and Japan 15.
Furahi-Day March 1, 2019
Shujaa, the Kenyan Rugby Sevens team is off to a rough start at the USA Rugby Sevens in Las Vegas.
Kenya fell 26-10 to USA and in the second match, the French team routed Kenya 31-7.
The young Kenyan team is packed with new up and coming players with a bright future ahead.
Next, Shujaa will play Argentina, who beat team USA 26-24.
Argentina now leads Pool B having won both of their starting games and are assured moving to the next round for the Cup competition.
The Kenya Vs Argentina game is scheduled for Saturday at 12.50 p.m.
Despite the tough day, Kenyan fans showed up in droves and were the life of the party. Lead by the famous cheerleader George Mukoasi, the stand with Kenyan fans captured the stadium attention every time a Kenyan player took the ball.
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