Kenya off to false start in Hong Kong after New Zealand thrashing

RUGBY Kenya off to false start in Hong Kong after New Zealand thrashing

Festus Chuma 10:30 - 31.03.2023

Nelson Oyoo scored the sole try for Shujaa against Orange, who led 19-5 at the break

The Kenyan Sevens rugby team Shujaa lost their opening match of the Hong Kong Sevens to New Zealand on Friday going down 29-5  at the Hong Kong Stadium.

Shujaa headed to the eighth leg of the series behind their disappointing 10th position at the Vancouver Sevens and they needed better results especially with relegation looming.

Akulia Lokolosia dotted down a brace of tries for the Oranges as they ran in five tries, two of them converted while Shujaa’s consolation was off Nelson Oyoo in the ninth minute of the game.

Leroy Carter got New Zealand off to a perfect start in the match after touching down in the third minute with Ngarohi McGarney-Black making the conversion.

A minute later Dylan Collier dotted down their second try with Lokolosia adding the third in the sixth minute, a try that he converted by his own to give New Zealand a 19-5 lead.

Shujaa captain Oyoo scored Kenya’s first try in Hong Kong before the break, but any slight hope of an impossible comeback were thwarted when Cody Vai went over the whitewash to add in five more points for New Zealand.

The ever-dangerous Akulia Lokolosia scored his second try in the 11th minute and rounded off a comfortable victory.

Shujaa’s next match is at 6:28am early Saturday morning against Ireland, before they close off their group stage action against South Africa at 10:25 am.

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