Kenya Lionesses outclass South Africa to clinch second consecutive Challenger Series title
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 09.03.25. | 09:21
The final was a repeat of the first Challenger Series semifinal, where Kenya edged South Africa 19-15, before defeating Argentina to claim the title
The Kenya Lionesses proved their dominance once again, securing their second consecutive Challenger Series title following a commanding 17-0 victory over South Africa in the final played on Saturday 8 March at the Athlone Stadium in South Africa.
Hibiki Ikeda officiated the high-stakes encounter that saw South Africa kick off proceedings.
The hosts displayed immense physicality early on, forcing Kenya to relieve pressure with kicks into space.
The South Africans came close to breaking through, but Judith Okumu’s solid defensive effort denied them.
A handling error from South Africa resulted in a scrum, giving Kenya an opportunity to build their attack.
Sinaida Nyachio fed the scrum, and a well-placed kick into the South African half put the hosts under pressure.
Another handling error from South Africa gifted Kenya possession again, and after a series of well-coordinated passes, Naomi Amuguni crossed the whitewash for the first try of the match.
The conversion, however, was unsuccessful.
The Lionesses continued to pile pressure, forcing more errors from the South Africans.
In the final moments of the first half, Kenya had possession and looked poised to extend their lead, but a turnover allowed South Africa to gain the ball briefly before another knock-on halted their progress.
The first half ended with Kenya leading 5-0.
Kenya came back stronger in the second half, neutralizing South Africa’s attacking threats with a combination of solid defense and tactical kicking.
The territorial battle was dominated by the Lionesses, who controlled possession and dictated the pace.
From a scrum, speedster Sharon Auma broke through the South African defense with a powerful run, diving over for Kenya’s second try of the match.
This time, the conversion was successful, extending Kenya’s lead to 12-0.
With under three minutes to play, South Africa’s handling woes continued, allowing the Lionesses to regain possession.
A tight contest ensued, with Kenya focused on managing the game to secure victory.
The match was momentarily paused as a player received medical attention, but upon resumption, Kenya maintained their grip on the game.
Freshia Oduor put the result beyond doubt with another try for Kenya as the final hooter sounded. South Africa made a last-gasp attempt to respond, but it was too little, too late.
Grace Adhiambo sealed the victory by kicking the ball into touch, sparking celebrations among the Lionesses.
The final was a repeat of the first Challenger Series semifinal, where Kenya edged South Africa 19-15, before defeating Argentina to claim the title.
Heading into the match, South Africa had beaten Czechia 21-15 and were eager for revenge, but the Lionesses had other plans.
The Lionesses' win saw them top the log with 40 points and secured their place in the third round in Krakow slated for Saturday 11 to Sunday 12 April in Krakow.
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