Kenya's Sevens opened their Cape Town Sevens campaign on a wrong foot, losing 29-12 to England in pool C at the Cape Town Stadium, South Africa.
Shujaas were on the back foot from the opening minute with all-time IRB World Sevens series top tries scorer Dan Norton bagging a hat-trick for England in the encounter.
Ethan Waddleton opened the scoring with a converted try for a 7-0 lead, but Kenya responded with captain Edend Agero converting Cyprian Kuto’s try to make it 7-7.
But England took a 12-7 lead at the breather after with Norton’s unconverted try.
A rejuvenated Shujaa came back strong to tie the match 12-12 courtesy of a Leonard Mugaisi try, but speed merchant Dan Norton weaved past the Kenyan back line to grab his second try of the match.
Norton completed his hattrick before Philip Burgess completed the routing, to ensure a dejected young Shujaa failed to win any match in the second series running.
Coach Paul Murunga’s side are missing experienced Kenya’s top try scorer Collins Injera, former captain Andrew Amonde, Willy Ambaka, Sammy Oliech, and Nelson Oyoo, who were involved in the world cup 2019 repechage qualifiers in France.
Shujaa who lost all their matches in Dubai last weekend, next play France at 3.20pm, before completing their day one outing against a tricky Fiji at 6: 4opm.
France beat Kenya 21-17 at the same stage last weekend at the opening Dubai sevens and Murunga’s men who must win the remaining fixtures to qualify for the quarters have to be at their best.
Kenya is currently at position three in pool C behind England, with three points same as France who were thrashed 50-0 by leaders Fiji in their opening fixtures.
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