Kenya Lionesses’ hopes of playing in the quarter-final of the Challenger Series received a major boost after they whipped African Champions South Africa 31-5 in a match played on Saturday morning in Chile.
Lionesses had kicked off their campaign with a 17-15 win over China while South Africa had beaten Chile 22-10 in their opener.
To beat SA, Grace Adhiambo and skipper Judith Okumu bagged a brace as Dennis Mwanja’s charges landed five tries in the win.
Bright start
Kenya’s bright start saw them score the first try in the third minute through Adhiambo who failed to convert her own try. The lead doubled when captain Okumu went over in the sixth minute for a 10-0 lead before Adhiambo’s conversion made it 12-0.
SA pulled back with an unconverted try for a 12-5 scoreline at halftime.
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The Lionesses came back stronger in the final half with Janet Okello’s try being converted by Adhiambo for a 19-5 lead.
Okumu returned to the scoresheet with her second try with Adhiambo adding the extras for a 26-5 lead. The Lionesses sealed their victory with an unconverted try by Adhiambo.
The win sees the Lionesses lead the pool with six points while China and South Africa have four points each. Lionesses will be keen to top the pool as they face Chile at 5:34 PM on Saturday.
World 7s Challenger Series Results: (Timings in EAT)
Women’s
Kazakhstan 22-5 Columbia
Japan 44-5 Mexico
Belgium 41-0 Papua New Guinea
Poland 36-5 Argentina
Men
Uruguay 12-26 Uganda
Germany 21-10 Lithuania
Tonga 29-5 Jamaica
Hong Kong 33-12 Zimbabwe
Women’s
China 15-17 Kenya Lionesses -21:01
South Africa 21-10 Chile
Men
Korea 12-15 Papua New Guinea
Chile 19-14 Georgia
Women
Kazakhstan 24-5 Mexico
Japan 21-12 Colombia
Belgium 10-15 Argentina
Men
Poland 71-0 Papua New Guinea
Saturday 13 August
Uruguay 52-5 Luthiania
Germany 17-15 Uganda
Tonga 26-15 Zimbabwe
Hong Kong 47-0 Jamaica
Women
China 36-0 Chile
South Africa 5-31 Kenya Lionesses
Men
Korea 5-41 Georgia- 03:04
Chile 24-7 Papua New Guinea -03:31
Colombia vs Mexico 16:28
Japan vs Kazakhstan -16:50
Papua New Guinea vs Argentina -17:12
Kenya Lionesses vs Chile 17:34
Uganda vs Lithuania -18:04
Germany Uruguay -18:26
Jamaica vs Zimbabwe -18:48
Papua New Guinea vs Georgia-19:10
Poland vs Belgium -19:40
South Africa vs China -20:02
Hong Kong vs Tonga -20:24
Chile vs Korea -20:46
