The Simbas began their Regal Hotels Cup of Nations on a losing note, going down 23-3 to Chile in the opening fixture at the Kings Park Ground in Hong Kong on Friday evening.
Nato Simiyu and Davis Chenge would visit the blood bin early,Biko Adema and Eric Kerre stepping for them. The duo were soon back on the field,Chile slightly shading Kenya for possession and territory, eventually getting points on the board courtesy of their fullback, 3-0 to Chile after 18 minutes of play.
The Simbas would survive another Chile attack following a dropped ball in the middle of the tight Kings Park Ground.
Settling into the game,Simba surged forward and drew level through Darwin Mukidza’s penalty,a fair contest unfolding thus far.
The game continued to ebb and flow, Chile turnover over possession from a Simbas handling error. They would go 6-3 up from the ensuing goal attempt, a lead they took into the interval.
Chile pinned their opponents to their half after the restart, Ianiszewski presented the opportunity to score a third penalty but his low and hard goal attempt was inaccurate.
Sustained pressure saw Chile score the game’s first try, Ianiszewski scoring and converting to see Chile 13-3 up.George Nyambua spilled the ball deep in Chile territory,Chile unlucky not to score from the counter attack.Benjamin Soto’s converted try after incessant pressure put Chile 20-3 with fourteen of the final forty to play.
Ianiszewski added another penalty to see Chile go 23-3 with seven minutes to play, the Simbas roar muted,Chile claiming the result.
SCORING
KENYA 3
Pens – D. Mukidza 1/1 (26’)
CHILE 23
Tries – T. Ianiszewski (56’), B. Soto (66’)
Cons – T. Ianiszewski 2/2 (57’, 67’)
Pens – T. Ianiszewski 3/5 (18’, 38’, 70’)
TEAMS
KENYA
1 Moses Amusala (17 Oscar Simiyu 58’), 2 Peter Karia (16 Philip Ikambili 58’), 3 Curtis Lilako (18 Dennis Karani 58’), 4 Wilson Kopondo (capt.), 5 Oliver Mang’eni, 6 George Nyambua, 7 Davis Chenge (19 Eric Kerre 5’-10’, 63’), 8 Joshua Chisanga (20 Lyle Asiligwa 74’), 9 Samson Onsomu (22 Peter Kilonzo 71’), 10 Nato Simiyu (21 Biko Adema 71’), 11 Jacob Ojee, 12 Leo Seje, 13 David Ambunya (23 Vincent Mose 71’), 14 Darwin Mukidza, 15 Tony Onyango
CHILE
1 Claudio Zamorano (17 Vittorio Lastra 47’), 2 Tomás Dussaillant (16 Ignacio Guajardo 61’), 3 José Tomás Munita (18 Marco Díaz 72’), 4 Nikola Bursic (19 Bastián Burgener 74’), 5 Mario Mayol, 6 Javier Richard (20 Manuel Dagnino 61’), 7 Anton Petrowitsch, 8 Benjamín Soto, 9 Sergio Bascuñan (21 Juan Pablo Perrotta 47’), 10 Santiago Videla, 11 Franco Velarde (23 Javier Lavanderos 79’), 12 Francisco de la Fuente (23 Javier Lavanderos 73’-79’), 13 José Ignacio Larenas (capt.), 14 Mauricio Urrutia (22 Matías Balbontín 47’), 15 Tomás Ianiszewski
