Lionesses end Africa Cup campaign on a high after thrashing Cameroon

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RUGBY Lionesses end Africa Cup campaign on a high after thrashing Cameroon

Joel Omotto 16:00 - 28.05.2023

Kenya returned to winning ways in ruthless fashion against the West Africans with the victory leaving them second in the four-team tournament

Kenya Lionesses ended their Rugby Africa Women's Cup campaign with a 52-3 thrashing of basement side Cameroon in Madagascar on Sunday.

The Lionesses, who had suffered a 48-0 defeat to South Africa, needed to win the match to finish second in the competition having opened their campaign with a 29-20 victory over hosts Madagascar last weekend.

They did just that, racing to a 19-0 lead at halftime before seeing off the game in the second half.

Nelly Chikombe opened the floodgates with a well-converted try after three minutes before Grace Adhiambo converted for a 7-0 lead. Adhiambo would get a try of her own two minutes later which was converted for a 14-0 advantage in favour of Dennis Mwanja’s team.

The Lionesses had to wait until the 34th minute to add another try which was not converted this time for the 19-0 halftime score.

Cameroon scored a penalty just after halftime but Kenya added another converted try in the 51st minute to extend their lead to 26-3.Three further tries, all converted, helped Kenya to the big win which leaves them in second place ahead of leaders South Africa’s match against Madagascar.

Mwanja had made four changes to the squad ahead of the tie against Cameroon with Chikombe, Terry Ayesa and Freshia Akinyi handed their first starts of the tournament, having come off the bench in the previous two matches.

South Africa have won their two games and are favourites to beat Madagascar, who have one win, after beating Cameroon.

A win for South Africa will see them qualify for the WXV Second Division while runners up Kenya will feature in the WXV Third Division.