Kenya Simbas fall to Hong Kong in final match
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 18.11.22. | 18:38
Kenya lost 14-68 to USA , then got hammered 85-0 by Portugal
Kenya bowed out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final Qualification Tournament with yet another defeat after falling to Hong Kong 22-18 on Friday evening to finish fourth.
Prior to the last match, The Simbas were already out of contention for a slot to the main event courtesy of back-to-back defeats to the USA and Portugal, including a shameful 85-0 drubbing by the latter.
Kenya take the lead into half time 💪
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 18, 2022
Can Hong Kong get themselves back into this one?#RWC2023
John Okoth gave Kenya the lead with the first try of the game after ten minutes but his effort was canceled out by Luke van der Smit's try on the other end of the pitch, with Gregor McNeish converting to give Hong Kong the advantage.
Jacob Ojee grabbed the second try at the half-hour mark which was successfully converted by Geoffrey Ominde for the bonus points to see Kenya lead 12-7, followed by two successful penalties by Ominde to see Simbas lead 18-7 at the break.
On resumption, McNeish scored from a penalty to narrow the gap to just eight points from 11 before Sean Taylor landed a try successfully converted by McNeish to move to within a point of the Paul Odera-coached side in the game.
Hong Kong's hooker Jak Lam who had come on in the second half scored in the 68th minute to see his side have the final say in a game that perhaps Simbas will feel they gave away.
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