Kenyans fell Argentina to take Bowl
Bush Mwale (right) of Kenya avoids a tackle by Santiago Alvarez of Argentina in the Bowl final match of the USA Sevens Rugby tournament on Sunday at Sam Boyd Stadium. Kenya won 24-21. AFP PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Hong Kong leg is up next on March 27 to 29 and Kenya Sevens will be among 28 teams competing in the three-day thriller. It was a swift revenge for Kenya who had gone down 19-14 to Argentina in the pool stages.
- The team will now seek to haul itself to the top 10 in the last four legs in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Edinburgh and London to avoid relegation next season.
- Kenya reached the Bowl final with a 17-7 quarter-final win over Portugal, a match in which Lavin Asego scored his 50th World Sevens Series try.
Kenya Sevens claimed sweet revenge against Argentina, scoring three second-half tries to beat the South Americans 24-21 in the Bowl final at the USA Sevens but that failed to improve their ranking in World Rugby Sevens Series.
The team, coached by Felix Ochieng, collected eight points from Las Vegas but remained 12th in the standings with 29 points. The team will now seek to haul itself to the top 10 in the last four legs in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Edinburgh and London to avoid relegation next season.
Hong Kong leg is up next on March 27 to 29 and Kenya Sevens will be among 28 teams competing in the three-day thriller. It was a swift revenge for Kenya who had gone down 19-14 to Argentina in the pool stages. Kenya had also lost 7-31 to the Pumas at Wellington Sevens pool stages. In a tight first-half, Lavin Asego converted Bush Mwale’s try before Santiago Alvarez leveled for the Pumas.
A double from substitute Leonard Mugaisi and Mwale’s second try opened the match up 24-7 for the Kenyans before Segundo Tuculet and Francisco Merello struck back late for Argentina. But it was too little too late for the Pumas as Kenya held on to win and claim eight points despite the red card on Dennis Muhanji.
GOOD GAME
“It was a good game,” said Kenya’s Tony Owuor. “The Argentines were tough in attack and we needed to make avenge the loss to them in the pool stages. This win also makes up for losing to Fiji here last year.” Kenya lost to Fiji 0-35 in Bowl final last year.
Earlier, Kenya earned a final date with Argentina after beating Samoa 19-5 in one of the team’s greatest show this season. Leading 7-5 at the break through a try to Michael Wanjala, Kenya finished strongly with second-half tries from Lavin Asego and Billy Odhiambo providing the winning margin. Asego, who emerges as man-of-the tour in Wellington and USA converted two of the tries. Argentina came from 19-7 down to beat Scotland 21-19 in bowl semis.
Kenya reached the Bowl final with a 17-7 quarter-final win over Portugal, a match in which Lavin Asego scored his 50th World Sevens Series try.
Kenya Sevens return to the country on Wednesday 6.30am. The team has been handed a tough Pool D draw in Hong Kong where they will meet USA, England and Wales.
