Barthes Cup: Chipu bag bronze after whipping Madagascar
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 17.04.22. | 16:20
Madagascar were restricted to only two tires in the game as Kenya dominated from start to finish.
The Kenya national Under 20 men's 15's side, Chipu clinched a podium finish to hand themselves some reprieve after whitewashing Madagascar 49-15 in the third place playoff of the Barthes Cup staged at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday 17 April.
After missing in the final for the first time in two editions, Kenya were a different beast hoping to make amends and took just four minutes to open the try scoring through skipper John Baraka who ploughed through the try line after a well worked scrum with Tony Oketch adding the extras.
Kenya meant business and got their second try in the ninth minute when Tyson Maina crossed the whitewash as Samuel Mwaura converted the try for a 14-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
Curtis Olago's boys showed no signs of slowing down as Oketch got on to the try scorers list with Madagascar getting their first points on the board three minutes later after an offside from Kenya.
The penalty from Madagascar spurred Kenya on as they went on a flurry of tries from Gabriel Ayimba, son of the late former Kenya 7s head coach Benjamin Ayimba and David Mwangi to cross the 30 points mark.
Madagascar grabbed a try of their own after some well worked passing moves that curved open the Kenya defense for Tsiaro Niaina to touch down with Food Nonana adding the extras.
The Islanders continued from where they left from in the first half as Alaun Rokoto touched down from a line break with the ball recycled to him for the try.
Kenya came back strong after the try from Madagascar as they added two more tries from Elvis Persian whose outstretched arm touched down, Laban Kipsang and Cornelius Mukoro to the scoreline to 49-15.
Kenya held on for the win to ensure they finish third in the 2022 Barthes Cup.
