Battered Shujaa bow out of Sydney 7s after dismal show

Kenya’s rugby sevens team Shujaa wrapped up their Sydney 7s campaign with a 12-19 loss to Samoa in the 15th place playoff picking up one point from the fourth leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

They did not secure any win in the two-day tournament as they lost 14-28 to Fiji, 21-26 to Wales and 5-19 to New Zealand in the pool stages to finish last in Pool A.

Shujaa was ranked as the third best fourth team booking the 15th place playoff date against the fourth best fourth team, Samoa.

Samoa’s Tofatu Solia was first to cross the whitewash as he rampaged his way past oncoming defenders, the conversion sailed wide for a 5-0 lead.

Shujaa was starved of the ball for the better part of the first half and when they finally got possession, Alvin Otieno’s gained several meters before he was tackled but he offloaded just in time to Willy Ambaka who leveled the scores to 5-5, Olindi’s conversion giving Shujaa the lead. Half time scores read 7-5 in favour of Shujaa.

In the second hal,f Elisapeta Alofipo gave Samoa the lead as he landed a centre post try but was soon watered down by Vincent Onyala’s reply. Shujaa’s conversion was short and scores were 12-12.

Samoa secured their first win of the weekend after Paul Scanlan landed their third try with Tomasi Alosio converting to give them the 19-12 lead that they held on to the end.

Shujaa now has a total of 26 points to their tally.

-Courtesy KRU