• • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • Stumble Upon
  • Furl

Kenya once again delighted their home fans by clinching a third successive Safaricom Sevens title on Sunday.
In a rematch of last year’s final the hosts came from behind to defeat the Emerging Boks 17-12 in a rain soaked Nairobi.

The home side opened the scores thirty-eight seconds into the game when Leon Adongo's burst of speed left him clear of his marker, touching down with relative ease.

But Louw Schabort soon put the South Africans on level terms with a try that was converted by Jacquin Jansen. The Emerging Boks would continue to press Kenya, getting their second try, securing a 12-5 lead heading into half-time.

Driving rain made the already tense final even more difficult, with both teams keeping play tight as handling errors reigned supreme. Sidney Ashioya reduced the deficit to 10-12. Asego's conversion levelled the scores in a tense affair.

But Kenya were not in a mood to let go of their home title and Gibson Weru sliced through the Emerging Boks defence, before directing a cross kick to Ashioya who grounded the ball, sending the capacity crowd into a frenzy at 17-12.

After a difficult season on the IRB Sevens World Series where Kenya finished eight, the win came as a welcome relief.

New Zealanders Ponsonby RFC beat French side Les Bleu 26-17 to claim the Plate while Argentina ensured that they left Nairobi with some silverware, beating Zimbabwe 14-7 for the Bowl.

South African side Hamilton Raiders beat Samurai 36-5 to run off with the Shield.

On the opening day’s play it was the Kenyans who led the way with wins over a young Samurai Barracudas, Zambia, and Les Bleus.

Bristol University impressed in beating Tanzania and Namibia but were taught a lesson by the unbeaten Boks losing 36-7. New Zealand side Ponsonby, making their Safari Sevens debut, won all their games at the pool stages also.

Uganda Schools earlier beat Nairobi 27-0 to claim the schools title.

---

Related articles:

Big names head to Safari Sevens
Kenya's Safaricom Sevens bigger and better
Samurai Barracudas at Safari Sevens