Shujaa have had a good Saturday at the Perth 7s in Australia so far, having also beaten Uruguay in their final Pool C clash.
Kenya’s national men’s sevens team, Shujaa, delivered an electrifying performance to defeat the USA 26-21 in a thrilling ninth-place semi-final clash at HBF Park in Australia on Saturday morning.
Kenya’s national men’s sevens team, Shujaa, delivered an electrifying performance to defeat the USA 26-21 in a thrilling ninth-place semi-final clash at HBF Park in Australia on Saturday morning.
The victory sets them up for the ninth-place final at the ongoing Perth 7s tournament.
Mokoro is the fourth Kenyan to have dumped Kenya Cup rugby to pursue greener pastures in Romania, and all it took was one game for Quins against Mwamba in late 2023 for the opportunity to pop up.
Back & forth battle
The USA struck first through Adam Channel, whose dazzling footwork left the Kenyan defense flat-footed, with the try successfully converted for a 7-0 lead.
However, Shujaa quickly responded as Patrick Odongo leveled the score with a well-executed converted try.
Momentum shifted to Kenya when George Ooro powered his way down the right flank after receiving a pass from Sammy Asati, giving Shujaa their first lead of the match.
At the start of the second half, Ooro struck again, capitalizing on a penalty situation. Dennis Abukuse skillfully offloaded the ball to the captain, who crossed the whitewash for his second try, extending Kenya’s lead to 19-7.
The USA clawed back into contention with Channel scoring his second try, taking advantage of a lapse in Kenya’s defense.
But Floyd Wabwire restored Shujaa’s cushion in spectacular fashion. After a deep kick from Kenya’s own 22-meter zone, Wabwire chased the ball, kicked it forward twice, and dotted it down for a converted try, making it 26-14.
A mishap in the restart allowed Tomas Talapusi to reduce the deficit with a try, which he converted himself, bringing the USA within five points at 26-21. However, Shujaa held firm in the dying moments to secure the win.
Earlier in the day, Shujaa ended their pool-stage drought with an emphatic 19-5 win over Uruguay, an unbeaten side heading into the match.
The victory not only marked their first pool-stage triumph of the tournament but also served as sweet revenge for their December 2024 loss to Uruguay in the Dubai 7s ninth-place playoff.
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Kenya Sevens team Shujaa are in a tough group in the Perth Leg and Sasha Mutai explains their key to success.
Shujaa’s spirited performances in Perth highlight their determination to climb back to the top of the sevens rugby circuit. All eyes now turn to the ninth-place final, where the Kenyan team will aim to cap off their campaign on a high note.
The victory sets them up for the ninth-place final at the ongoing Perth 7s tournament.
Back & forth battle
The USA struck first through Adam Channel, whose dazzling footwork left the Kenyan defense flat-footed, with the try successfully converted for a 7-0 lead.
However, Shujaa quickly responded as Patrick Odongo leveled the score with a well-executed converted try.
Momentum shifted to Kenya when George Ooro powered his way down the right flank after receiving a pass from Sammy Asati, giving Shujaa their first lead of the match.
At the start of the second half, Ooro struck again, capitalizing on a penalty situation. Dennis Abukuse skillfully offloaded the ball to the captain, who crossed the whitewash for his second try, extending Kenya’s lead to 19-7.
The USA clawed back into contention with Channel scoring his second try, taking advantage of a lapse in Kenya’s defense.
But Floyd Wabwire restored Shujaa’s cushion in spectacular fashion. After a deep kick from Kenya’s own 22-meter zone, Wabwire chased the ball, kicked it forward twice, and dotted it down for a converted try, making it 26-14.
A mishap in the restart allowed Tomas Talapusi to reduce the deficit with a try, which he converted himself, bringing the USA within five points at 26-21. However, Shujaa held firm in the dying moments to secure the win.
Earlier in the day, Shujaa ended their pool-stage drought with an emphatic 19-5 win over Uruguay, an unbeaten side heading into the match.
The victory not only marked their first pool-stage triumph of the tournament but also served as sweet revenge for their December 2024 loss to Uruguay in the Dubai 7s ninth-place playoff.
Shujaa’s spirited performances in Perth highlight their determination to climb back to the top of the sevens rugby circuit. All eyes now turn to the ninth-place final against New Zealand, where the Kenyan team will aim to cap off their campaign on a high note.
