Mixed emotions for Injera as Kenya bag Shield

Collins Injera extended his HSBC World Sevens Series all-time scoring record to 235 as the London 7s closed on Sunday with Kenya bagging the Shield title in Twickenham.

Injera made history on Saturday when he grounded his 231st five-pointer in Shujaa’s 12-29 loss to France in their final Pool C clash and added four more on Day 2 of the 10th and final round of the 2015/16 season as his team failed to achieve its target of 100 points to beat its record tally of 99 set in the 2013/13 campaign.

“Mixed emotions. On a personal level I managed to achieve the goal that I had set when I started playing rugby, but as a team we found ourselves in a difficult situation.

“But saying that I think we finished on a positive and heading to the Olympics now we just need to go home, rest, recover, prepare and work hard for the next one. I think we’re on the verge of something special,” the team vice-captain said after Shujaa crushed Russia 31-7 in the Shield final as Kenya closed the season seventh overall with 98.

Benjamin Ayimba’s charges drew first blood as Willy Ambaka danced his way through the Russian defence for the opening try of the Shield final.

Russia’s cause was not helped by Denis Simplikevich seeing yellow for kicking the ball away and Injera pounced to score another.

Nelson Oyoo claimed number three and then it was time for Injera’s 235th series try to put the Africans firmly in control at the break with 26-0 on the score board.

The damage may have already been done but Ramil Gaysin could not wipe the smile off his face after scoring his first series try after the Russian playmaker broke through the middle, throwing a dummy to no-one, and backing himself to go over in the second half.

That only woke Kenya up again and Oyoo grabbed his second to end any hopes of a Russian comeback.

Kenya eased to the final with a 38-5 demolition of Brazil and the Singapore 7s champions who would have rather not been competing for The Shield were well on course for the decider after tries from Ambaka, Samuel Oliech and Injera – number 233 for him on the series – against the Rio 2016 hosts Brazil.

Billy Odhiambo got a fourth but Brazil – who have been hit hard by injuries this weekend and only had eight fit players for this match – got the biggest cheer when Andre Silva got them on the scoreboard. There is still time for Robert Aringo and Ambaka to make the victory that little bit more emphatic with two late tries.

Eventual Bowl champions, Wales edged Shujaa 19-21 in the quarters of that competition after Kenya were knocked out of the Main Cup last eight after being beaten by Scotland and France in the pool stages.

Shujaa return home to prepare for the Rio 2016 Olympics where they will be aiming to be the first Kenyan team to bag a medal at the greatest sporting carnival on earth.

Scotland won the Main Cup after a stunning comeback to beat South Africa 27-26 in the final while New Zealand won the Plate.

Fiji were confirmed the back-to-back Series champions after making the Main Cup quarters before their run ended with a fourth finish in London.