Kenya Simbas World cup qualifying dreams took a blow as they went down 29-23 to Zimbabwe in a Rugby Africa Cup semi final clash at the Mandela Stadium in Kampala.
In the second clash of the day at the venue, Simbas would go in hunt of the evasive Sables, the two rivals too well aversed from past encounters in their battles for supremacy.
Kenya Simbas start
Kenya took control immediately from the start, Patrick Sabatia plucking Barry Young’s kick from the skies to start two minutes of possesion before Zimbabwe capitalised onnan isolated carry to turn over possesion.
The Sables would hit first, countering Kenya off the kick for Edward Sigauke to break on the outside before offloading to an oncoming Brandon Mudzekenyedzi who slid in near the corner under pressure from two Red shirts, 5-0 early on.
Kenya would hit back immediately, Sabatia taking advantage of his aerial prowess to retrieve the restart before Eugine Sifuna released Adaka to take Kenya into the 22. Sifuna would then barge in from the back of the maul as Jone Kubu missing the extras for a 5-5 scoreline.
Ian Prior then pulled Sables ahead from the boot after Kenya were penalised for a high tackle inside the 22 for an 8-0 lead as Kenya were reduced to 14 men after Griffin Chao was sent to the bin for a high tackle on Mathew McNab.
Kenya then pulled level as Kubu slotted in a penalty from close before Zimbabwe extended their lead courtesy of skipper Hilton Mudariki who had the precense of mind to pick an offload from a yard out to dot down in the corner for a 13-8 lead.
Kenya was next with points on the board, Kubu splitting the uprights after another infringement in the breakdown by the South Africans after continued pressure inside their 22. Scores now 13-11 in favour of the Sables.
The game the turned into an equal contest in the middle of the pitch before both kickers missed chances at hoarding points.
Kenya had reserved the last laugh of the of the stanza as Griffin Chao capitalised on a dropped ball to race away clear, Kubu adding the extras for an 18-13 lead as both outfits headed into the shades.
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Kenya would miss chances from the backnof the maul as the first quarter hour of the second period flew by uneventfully.
Sables scored first, hitting from close as the forwards piled pressure on the Kenyan defence, Prior converting the try for a 20-18 lead.
Prior added another three points as he lined up a drop kick from outside the 22 before adding a further three as Kenya were deemed offside at the scrum to give the Sables an eight point lead, scores now 26-18 with a little over seven minutes of play left on the clock.
Prior would add another three pointer to take the game away from Kenya, making it 29-18 with just under three minutes of regulation time.
Substitute hooker Teddy Akala would score off a defending lineout at the stroke of death, the hooter sounding as the Red shirts were retreating to their half, the center referee calling time on the clash, full time scores 29-23.
