Kenya’s hope of hitting a three-digit point finish at the 2016 IRB Series was dealt a huge blow following their bowl quarter final loss to Wales at Twickenham during the HSBC London Sevens.
Shujaa headed into the competition with 95 points and needed at least a runners up finish in the bowl and get seven points to surpass the record of 99 points set by Mike Friday during the 2013 tournament.
Against Wales, Kenya trailed 14-0 heading into the break but Nelson Oyoo’s unconverted try brought them back into the game. Injera’s try after 11 minutes reduced the deficit before Oliech made a successful conversion for a 14-10 score. Oyoo’s converted try gave Kenya a 19-14 lead but the lead was cut short when Rhordi Williams scored a converted try to give the Welsh boys a 21-19 final score. Kenya was further relegated to the Shield semi-finals where they thrashed Brazil 38-5 to proceed into the finals against Russia.
Here, Kenya bagged three points following a 31-7 victory, taking their season’s tally to 98 points. Kenya scored through Willy Ambaka, Collins Injera (2), Oyoo (2) while Sammy Oliech added three conversions.
The Singapore Sevens winners had started the London leg campaign on a high, upsetting Portugal 22-17 after recovering from a 5-17 deficit heading into the break. Oscar Ayodi touched down twice as Collins Injera and Frank Wanyama each scored once. Oliech made one successful conversion during the game. Portugal got their tries from Vasco Mendez and Pedro Leal. Leal made one successful conversion during the game. In the second Pool ‘A’ match, Kenya lost to Scotland 29-12. Scotland’s James Johnstone and Darmien Hoyland each scored converted tries for Scotland in the first and second minute. Scott Ridell scored Scotland’s third unconverted try to put them 19-7 ahead of Kenya at first half. Injera scored Shujaa’s converted try in the 9th minute. Kenya’s woes continued in the second half when Mark Robertson scored another try for Scotland before Scott Wight missed the conversion.
Injera’s consolation try came in the 16th minute but he, however, missed the conversion. Kenya lost both to France in the third match. France took lead through converted tries from Pierre Gilles Lakafia and Steeve Barry in the third and fifth minute. Damien Cler continued France’s win with a third try although Arthur Retiere missed the conversion as Kenya trailed 0-19. Virimi Vakatawa opened the second half with an unconverted try in the eighth minute before they ended their scoring run with Retieres unconverted try. Andrew Amonde scored Kenya’s first try in the 11th minute which was converted by Injera. He later scored his 231st try to hit Santiago Cora’s best( 230 tries). Following the loss Kenya were relegated to the Bowl semis against wales.