Mercurial Injera equals try-record as Shujaa slump to Scotland

Mercurial Injera equals try-record as Shujaa slump to Scotland

Collins Injera equalled Santiago Gomes Cora’s all-time HSBC World Sevens Series try scoring record with his 230th that the historic feat was not enough to save Kenya from going down to a 12-24 defeat to Scotland at the London 7s on Saturday.

The Shujaa vice-captain touched down just before the hooter for the landmark moment but did not celebrate it in emphatic fashion after Kenya lost the second Pool C game to set up a must win clash against the unbeaten France to make the London 7s Main Cup quarters..

Perhaps not the most popular try-scorers at Twickenham today, but James Johnstone got Scotland off to a dream start after only 30 seconds and then Damien Hoyland claims the restart perfectly to leave Kenya on the back foot for the second match running in London.

It could have got worse when Jamie Farndale charged down the right wing, but Injera pulled off an incredible try-saving tackle to hold the ball up.

It was only a temporary respite though as Scott Riddell – in his 50th series tournament – went over from a quickly-taken penalty.

The fight-back was on though when veteran Humphrey Kayange broke clear and then gave his brother Injera the present of a 229th series try.

Kenya were camped in the Scotland half but couldn’t find a way through to set up a tense finale and instead the ball comes loose and Team GB wider squad member Mark Robertson hacked on twice and gathered the ball to score the try that put the match beyond the Singapore champions.

There was still time, though, for Injera to score try number 230 to equal Cora at the top of the all-time try-scoring charts, much to the delight of his parents watching from the stands.

-Portugal revival-

Shujaa hurdle before kick off of their London 7s clash against Portugal. PHOTO/World Rugby
Shujaa hurdle before kick off of their London 7s clash against Portugal. PHOTO/World Rugby

Benjamin Ayimba’s boys pulled off another a fantastic comeback to beat Portugal 22-17 in their  opener in Twickenham, London.

This came after Scotland drew 14-14 with France earlier.

It was a repeat of what happened in the last series in Paris for Singapore series champions in their opener against their opponents, but it was Kenyas’ speedster  Injera day who scored his 228th try.

Oscar Ayodi scored two second half tries for Shujaa in the 10th and 13th minutes to draw level with Antonio Aguilar boys 17-17.

This was after Pedro Miguel Da Cunha Leal had scored to tries for Portugal in the 1st and 3rd minutes but missed the two conversions to give his team a 10-0 lead.

Injera scored for Shujaa in the fifth minute but a try from Vasco Mendes and a conversion from Leal made it 17-5 at half time.

Ayimba words were taken strongly in the second half with Ayodi scoring two tries and one from Frank Wanyama to make  all the difference for Kenya to win the match 22-17.

 

Tags:

Portugal Rugby collins injera HSBC World Sevens Series Kenya 7s London 7s HSBC World Series Humprey Kayange

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