National Sevens team fall to South Africa in Adelaide final

By BS MULAVI and AGENCIES

Kenya made history in Adelaide when they sensationally reached their first ever final in the IRB Sevens circuit.

The World Cup semi finalists have been faltering in the semifinal stages of prior legs in the circuit but this time round coach Ayimba and his team were taking nothing for granted.

They easily dismissed Wales 33-5 in the quarterfinals and Argentina 17-5 in the semis to set up a first ever all African final against rivals South Africa Sunday.

South Africa who have already won the Dubai and George legs have had three previous final appearances and this experience was what separated the two teams with the series leaders beating Kenya 27-7 to lift the Adelaide trophy.

The South Africans also opened huge gap in the race to topple defending series champions New Zealand.

Robert Ebersohm was first to score for the eventual champions after a dashing run at the wing to cut back and open the scores.

Kenya piled on the pressure and after a brave run from Innocent Simiyu, captain Humphrey Kayange provided the much needed support to even the match at 7-7 with a near centre post try.

This was the last time Kenya saw the South African try line in the game as the Adelaide defending champs dictated most of the possession and territorial advantage to score three more tries to seal Kenya’s fate and retain the title.

This was Kenya’s third game of the day, the first being the thrashing of Rugby Sevens World Cup champs Wales 33-5 in a one sided match of clinical rugby with Gibson Weru, Collins Injera and Innocent Simiyu all getting their names on the score board.

In the semi finals it was sweet revenge for the Africans as they squared it out with the team that knocked them out of the Melrose Cup in Dubai just over a month ago.

Kenya were ferocious in their defence and gave the South Americans no breathing space which forced them into errors.

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