The Lionesses dreams of playing at next year’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco were curtailed by South Africa who edged them 17-12 in a tense Africa Women’s Sevens cup final in Monastir, Tunisia on Sunday 17 September 2017.
The Lionesses took a 12-5 lead into the break,rallying from a 0-5 deficit to score through Sinaida Aura and Janet Okello, Doreen Remour managing a solitary conversion.
South Africa pressed after the restart, Chris Steinobel going over after Remour was sent to the sin bin, trailing the Kenyans by two points.
Kenya allowed the ball to bounce from the ensuing restart, fumbling in the line out deep in their half. South Africa built the momentum, Zenay Jordan following up and barging over for the converted try, South Africa 17-12 up with a minute of play left on the ticker.
The Lady Blitzbokke would soon tap the ball out to touch after the hooter sounded, the full time whistle sounding as they retained the title, and with it, Africa’s sole berth to the RWC Sevens in San Francisco in 2018.
Gallant @kenyalioness go down fighting, falling to a 17-12 defeat against @LadyBlitzBokke in the #AfricaWomens7s Cup final . pic.twitter.com/aYlnDKaFSD
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) September 17, 2017
Okello brace steers Lionesses to Cup Final
Janet Okello struck twice as the Lionesses raced to a 26-7 win over Tunisia, booking a berth in the cup final at the Africa Women’s Sevens in Tunisia on Sunday 17 September 2017. Her converted try put Kenya ahead but Tunisia’s response was swift, landing a converted try to level matters.
Janet Okello landed two tries for the Lionesses in their 26-7 semifinal win over Tunisia at the #AfricaWomens7s pic.twitter.com/kHZOOYcS9M
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) September 17, 2017
It remained competitive and all square at the break.
The Lionesses were under the cosh, and were down to six players with Sinaida Aura sent to the sin bin in mid second half before Phila Olando’s kick over the Tunisia defense saw Okello chase and ground the ball, Doreen Remour with the conversion to put the Lionesses 14-7 up with two minutes to play.
Stacy Awuor would then steal the ball off the lineout, offloading to Olando whose try certainly sunk the hosts and won the game for the Kenyans. Aura, back from the naughty chair, scored at the death to emphasize the result for the Lionesses, Janet Owino sure with the extras. They would qualify to meet South Africa in the cup final at 5.22pm EAT.
Aura lands four as Lionesses cruise to semifinals
The Lionesses put Morocco to the slaughter, romping to a 47-0 result in cup quarterfinal action at the Africa Women’s Sevens in Monastir on Sunday.
FT@kenyalioness 47 – Morocco 0#AfricaWomens7s
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) September 17, 2017
Aura’s turn of speed saw her land a converted try, this coming after they won possession at the break down.
She soon added a second, Doreen Remour with another successful conversion for a 14-0 lead.Janet Okello’s quick ball set up Sheila Chajira for the Lionesses third try, Remour converting for a 21-0 score, it was soon 26-0, Celestine Masinde’s subtle little step clearing her way to the try line, Remour with the extras for a 28-0 score at the interval.
Aura lands four as Lionesses cruise to cup semifinals #AfricaWomens7s https://t.co/75HRTTr0XT pic.twitter.com/t727jsjd78
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) September 17, 2017
Morocco’s decision to kick away possession gifted Aura the opportunity to land her treble, easily fielding and racing clear to go over the chalk, Remour’s ensuing conversion giving the Lionesses a 35-0 lead and it was soon 42-0 lead after the referee awarded the Kenyans a penalty try.
Aura was not done scoring, going over for her fourth and the Lionesses seventh, a commanding 47-0 result for Kevin Wambua’s charges who set up a date against Tunisia in the semis.
