Kenya beats Canada, falters against the Pumas
Kenya Sevens complicated their chances of making to the Cup quarterfinals at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas after posting mixed results.
Billy Odhiambo scored the winning try as Kenya Sevens rallied from behind to edge out Canada 22-21 before they lost to Argentina 14-19.
Kenya must beat England early on Sunday morning in their last Pool B match to make it to the Cup quarters. England beat Argentina 19-17 but faltered against the Canadians 12-15 to throw the pool wide open.
Kenya could have won the match at the death when they got a penalty inside Argentina’s 22m but wrong option of swinging the ball wide saw skipper Andrew Amonde fail to release the ball when he went down to concede a penalty that the Pumas kicked out to end the match.
It’s Franco Sabato, who left Kenya trailing from the outset with the defence creaking early doors. The Pumas were 14-0 up after Nicolas Coronel cashed in on Kenya’s defensive flaws to sneak through for a centre post try.
MISSED TACKLE
But a good workout from inside their 22 saw Oscar Ayodi weave through some tackles with good side-steps before a 50 metres sprint for the try that Lavin Asego converted. Kenya went for the drinks training 7-14.
The Pumas drew the Kenyans close before Sabato snaked through some gap at her middle to score a try at put them ahead 19-7 but Kenya would strike deep as a missed tackle saw speedster Billy Odhiambo go clear.
It’s then that the Kenyans went on the offensive to get a penalty inside the Pumas 22. They had an easy option of attacking but Asego swung the ball wide as Amonde fumbled to give out the penalty.
Kenya fell behind 14-0 against the Canadians but Michael Wanjala and Dan Sikuta hit back with Asego converting one as Kenya trailed 12-14 at the break.
Sean White went through for a quick try to put the Canadians ahead 21-12 but Sikuta reduced the deficit at 17-21 before Odhiambo’s last gasp winning try.