New Zealand Dim Shujaa’s Cup Quarter-Final Hopes at HSBC World Championship in Hong Kong

Kenya Sevens’ hopes of making the cup quarter-final at the HSBC World Championship in Hong Kong became slim following a second straight group stage defeat on Friday.

Shujaa, who had earlier lost 14-5 to Australia, improved somewhat but still went down, this time at the hands of the revered New Zealand.

Kenya were put on the backfoot as soon as the first whistle went with the New Zealanders taking a 7-0 lead after a quickly converted try from Roderick Solo.

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New Zealand then used their great quality to good effect shortly after when Sam Clarke went on the blind side of the Kenyan defence to touch down the second try, which he converted for 14-0.

However, Kenya fought back to ensure the first half did not end without scoring and it was down to Kevin Wekesa, who used his strength well to hold off the challenge of two players, to touch down although he missed his conversion for 14-5 at the break.

In the second half, New Zealand upped the ante and scored their third try in beautiful fashion. An overhead pass that took out the Kenyans landed in the hands of Brady Rush and he sprinted to the line for another try, which he converted for 21-5.

Kenya, however, responded in the best way they knew how when an offload from Vincent Onyala was picked up by Vincent Asati and as he was on his way to the try line, he was closed down before he passed to Nygal Amaitsa who made it 21-12 after converting.

By this time, there were more than two-and-a-half minutes still to play and Kenya was very much in the game but New Zealand employed a patient approach.

The All Black Sevens let Kenya hog possession but not get into their 22-yard area and when Shujaa missed a pass, they were duly punished with Veveni Lasaqa sprinting to score a converted try for a 28-12 win for his side.

After losing their second game, hopes of Kenya making it to the quarter-final are dim and they will take on USA on Saturday knowing their chances are very slim given they have no points while New Zealand and Australia have six each. USA have one point while Kenya are pointless after two games.