Shujaa winger Patrick Odongo in action against Australia at Dubai Sevens. [Kenya Sevens]
Kenya Sevens have kicked off their Hong Kong Sevens campaign on the front foot after stunning World Rugby Sevens Series second-placed outfit Spain 19-0 in a one-sided match played at the Kai Tak Stadium this morning.
Shujaa co-captain Samwel Asati and George Ooro led by example after scoring a try each, with speed star Patrick Odongo also on the score sheet with his 15th try of the HSBC SVNS debut season.
Kenya got off to a perfect start after turning defense into attack when Odongo intercepted a Spanish offload from inside his own half, picking the ball and beating two defenders with blistering pace to score an unconverted try for a 5-0 lead after three minutes of play.
The restart saw Shujaa turn over possession that resulted in a lineout, a set piece Asati threw to an open Kevin Wekesa, who after a big carry, offloaded the ball to Nygel Amaitsa, who after a series of offloads to the left wing, switched the ball back to the center for a charging Ooro.
The former Chianda High School forward bulldozed his way through two defenders to score between the posts for a 12-0 half-time lead after Amaitsa’s conversion.
In the final half, a series of attacks and defending followed before Shujaa earned a five-meter scrum off the Spanish try box that Asati capitalised on when he sprinted to the try line off the scrum to stretch the lead to 19-0 after conversion.
Vincent Onyala and Brian Tanga would be introduced in the final minutes for some fresh legs to protect the lead which they did as Shujaa picked a stunning 19-0 win.
The win moved Kenya top of Group C with three points and 19 points followed by Great Britain who also stunned France 12-7.
Great Britain also have three points but with an inferior point difference of five points. France are third and Spain bottom each without a point.]
Kenya will be back in action against Great Britain at 9.23 am.