Kenya 7s drop to Challenge Trophy despite Samoa win

Kenya on Saturday dropped to the Paris Sevens Challenge Trophy despite registering their second win in their Group "A" matches after edging out Samoa 24-10 at the Jean-Bouin Stadium.

World Rugby Sevens Series leaders Fiji joined fellow Pacific islanders New Zealand in the Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Kenya in the tough pool.

What locked out Kenya Seven was Fiji’s 26-17 win over New Zealand where Kenya banked either on the All Blacks defeating Fiji or All Blacks losing by more than 13 points to progress.

Fiji, New Zealand and Kenya finished with seven points each with two wins apiece. The Fijians, who are in line for their sixth Cup success this season and All Blacks went through on better aggregate.

Billy “The Kid” Odhiambo touched down a brace of tries while Collins Injera and Brian Tanga rolled a try each to beat Samoa, who scored two tries through David Afamasaga and Joe Perez.

Against Fiji, Injera, William Ambaka, Andrew Amonde and Eric Ombasa landed a try apiece as Kenya Sevens led 15-7 at the break to dismantle the Fijians.

Tries from Semi Kunatani, Josua Vakurunabili and Kalione Nasoko failed to deter Kenya Sevens from exacting revenge against the Fijians, who had beaten them at the Canada Sevens and Hong Kong Sevens Cup finals.

Fiji had beaten Samoa 35-12 in their Pool “A” opening match as Kenya lost 24-5 to New Zealand, who went on to seal their second victory, beating Samoa 22-17.

Yearning for revenge, Kenya won a scrum inside the Fijian 22m. Injera would pick up the ball at the base before going through a big gap to score.

The brilliant running rugby from Kenya had the crowd cheering as Injera found Ambaka who finished the move. The conversion was missed again as Kenya led 10-0 at the break.