Masinde scores first try as France maul Lionesses 40-7

Kenya Lionesses have essentially only pride to play for when they face Spain in their final Pool B encounter of the Rio 2016 Olympics after France left their qualification hopes in tatters with a 40-7 thumping at the Deodoro Stadium.

Having lost their opener 52-0 to favourites New Zealand, the Lionesses needed a response in their second fixture but Caroline Ladagnous touched down the game’s first try with Jade Le Pesq adding the extras for 7-0 inside the opening four minutes.

Celestine Masinde then etched her name to history books when she scored Kenya’s first try at the Olympics where rugby sevens is making its debut with Janet Owino converting successfully for 7-7.

From the re-start, Le Pesq gave France a 14-7 lead when she went over the whitewash before her boot did the rest.

After changing sides, Fanny Horta took only 23 seconds to notch her team’s third five-pointer with Le Pesq sealing the conversion before Mike Shamiah brought on Linet Arasa and Stacy Otieno from the bench for Janet Okelo and Sheila Chanjira.

The changes did little to stem the attack when France put further distance between them and the Kenyans when Lina Guerin scored their fourth try and woman-of-the-match LePesq obliged with the kick for 28-7.

Ladagnous then went over for her brace but LePesq missed the conversion this time before Audrey Amiel went over at the hooter to give Pauline Biscarat the chance to round off the scoring with the conversion in extra time.

New Zealand and France top the pool on six points apiece after beating Spain and Kenya who round the group with two each and it will require the Lionesses to run a cricket score to overhaul their poor try difference in order to qualify for the quarters as one of the best placed third finishers.