Simbas claw Dragons in test match

Kenya Simbas beat Hong Kong Dragons 34-10 with a solid display in a Test match at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) grounds on Saturday, 27.

The Simbas dominated right from the start, taking a 3-0 lead inside the first three minutes following a Darwin Mukidza’s converted penalty after Captain Brian Nyikuli had been fouled.

The Simbas were at it again six minutes later, as a powerful surge from powerhouse James Kang’ethe saw him cross the white wash for Kenya’s first try with set-piece specialist Mukidza converting the resultant try for a 10-0 lead.

In a moment of individual brilliance, open-side flanker Tony Owuor set the Simbas on the counter as he pounced on a loose ball from the opposition to set up Tony Onyango who calmly going for the touchdown with the ever clinical Mukidza converting yet again to bring the scoreline to 17-0.

A foul play by Jamie Tsang on Kang’ethe earned the Simbas their second penalty of the match, which Mukidza converted coolly to open up a 20-0 lead against the visiting team.

Dan Halvey would boot a penalty for the Dragons, for a 20-3 scoreboard at the break.

The hosts’ backline remained as sturdy as the second half began, shutting out the opposition who were still in the hunt for a first try of the match.

Nato Simiyu broke the Dragons’ defense ten minutes into the second half, racing past for a wonderfully placed try to extend the lead to 27-3.

Mukidza, whose brilliant moves made him a joy to watch, sprung onto a loose ball from the opposition and almost literally walked his way to the try box before converting his own try to make it 34-3.

Dragons finally found their try through Tony Wong as the Simbas held on for a 34-10 triumph.

It was no surprise as Owuor – who displayed a stellar performance throughout the match  – was named the man-of-the-match.