RUGBY

Shujaa in tricky pool for Toulouse sevens

Kenya face New Zealand ,Uruguay and Canada.

In Summary

• Kenya bagged seven points from Singapore after losing 26-10 to Spain in the 9 and 10 classification match.

• Shujaa must now aim for the main cup quarters in France and finish in the top six and hope that Uruguay and Spain don't accumulate more points than Kenya.

Kenya's Nelson Oyoo drives through the Australia defence in a past event
Kenya's Nelson Oyoo drives through the Australia defence in a past event
Image: /FILE

Relegation-threatened  Shujaa have been placed in a tricky pool for the Toulouse sevens next month.

Kenya will battle New Zealand, Uruguay and Canada in pool 'A'.

Kenya bagged seven points from Singapore after losing 26-10 to Spain in the 9 and 10 classification match and knows they face a fight to save their core status after an error-strewn performance over the two days.

Damian McGrath's charges now have 37 points and sit 13th on the log.

Spain are 12th with 48 points while Uruguay, who reached the main cup quarters at Shujaa's expense, have 49 points to rank 11th.

Shujaa must now aim for the main cup quarters in France and finish in the top six and hope that Uruguay and Spain don't accumulate more points than Kenya.

After losing their three matches in the preliminary round on April 8, Shujaa rediscovered their form by first edging Canada 28-14.

Max Stewart opened the scoring for the North American side which was converted for a 7-0 lead.

Kenya fought back when George Ooro crossed the whitewash with Tony Omondi slotting the conversion to tie the match at the interval.

On resumption, Brian Tanga, one the very few players to play his heart out in the far East, sliced open the Canadian defence with near footwork to score. Omondi converted for a 14-7 lead.

Tanga then turned creator a few minutes later when he played in Kevin Wekesa for Kenya's third try to make it 21-7.

Canada pulled a late try but Edmund Anya sealed the win for Shujaa with Omondi converting.

Shujaa then crushed Japan 40-7. Try scorers for Kenya were George Ooro who grabbed a brace, Alvin Otieno, Tony Omondi, Johnstone Olindi and John Okoth.

Omondi converted five of the tries for Kenya who led 21-7 at the interval. Taiga Ishida scored Japan's try.