A 14-21 loss to eventual champions Argentina saw Shujaa finish second losing twice in the whole tournament to Argentina: in the pool stages and in the final.
Innocent Simiyu’s charges started off on the wrong foot after Nelson Oyoo was sent to the sin-bin for an infringement in the first minute of the match. As Argentina was deep in Shujaa’s territory, they forced an error, and Shujaa was penalized which resulted in Argentina taking a quick tap and scoring a center post try. The conversion was successful, Los Pumas leading 7-0. Oyoo’s two minutes elapsed and he got back onto the pitch right as Shujaa was attacking, William Ambaka passed the ball to Tony Omondi who then sent it wide to land in Oyoo’s hand and he raced straight to the try box landing his side’s first try. Omondi added the extras for a 7-7 scoreline.
Argentina spotted a gap and quickly exploited it heading straight for a second center post try. At the restart, Shujaa was in possession of the ball and Olindi made his way to the opponent’s red zone. As he was getting tackled, the buzzer went and an offload to his counterparts resulted in a knock-on. The Center referee blew his whistle marking the end of the first half, Los Pumas leading 14-7.
The second half, both sides registered seven points each; Shujaa was first as the mercurial Tony Omondi’s pass to Alvin “Buffa” Otieno resulted in Buffa speeding past his oncoming defender and landed a center post try.
Omondi added the extras. Argentina refused to go down without a fight and they quickly bounced back taking a 7-point lead as they scored their third and final try of the match, to emerge the tournament winners in this first leg of the Madrid7s.
Shujaa’s scorecard
Shujaa 36 – Portugal 5(Pool match)
Shujaa 19 – Spain 5(Pool match)
Shujaa 38 – USA 7(Pool match)
Shujaa 7 – Argentina 21(Pool Match)
Shujaa 14 – Argentina 21(Final)
