Perth 7s: Kenya Sevens' second half capitulation hand Fiji victory
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 24.01.25. | 11:37
Shujaa will now face Uruguay on Saturday 25 January at 7:00 am
Kenya Sevens put on an impressive first-half performance in their second match of the HSBC SVNS in Perth, Australia, taking a 14-7 lead at halftime against Fiji but eventually lost 21-14.
This came after both teams suffered defeats in their opening games, with Shujaa falling 29-14 to New Zealand and Fiji narrowly losing 24-17 to Uruguay.
Kenya posted a nervy start as Patrick Odongo knocked on deep in Fiji's territory, giving the Pacific Islanders an early scrum.
Despite Fiji gaining possession, Shujaa quickly forced a turnover and kicked the ball downfield, reclaiming possession in their own half.
Kenya’s pressure began to pay off when Dennis Abukuse stepped out on the sideline, leading to a lineout.
From the set piece, Shujaa executed a maul to perfection, regaining control of the ball. A well-coordinated series of passes saw Nygel Amaitsa cross the whitewash for Kenya’s first try.
While the referee initially held it up, the try was eventually awarded, sending Kenyan fans into a frenzy. Amaitsa successfully converted, giving Kenya an early 7-0 lead.
The momentum stayed with Shujaa as Fiji committed a knock-on, allowing Kenya to play on the advantage.
From the ensuing scrum, Samuel Asati displayed brilliant individual skill, exploiting the blind side to score Kenya’s second try. Once again, Amaitsa added the extras, extending the lead to 14-0.
Fiji responded with a try of their own through Joji Nasova, with Villaime Satala nailing the conversion to narrow the gap to 14-7.
Kenya dominated possession towards the end of the half, though they were unable to turn it into points.
Shujaa suffered a setback when captain George Ooro went off injured just minutes before the break.
Fiji brought the heat in the closing half, determined to overturn the narrow deficit.
Joseva Talacolo soon showcased Fiji's flair, finishing off a series of slick passes to score the equalizing try. With the scores tied at 14-14, the atmosphere was electric as Kenyan fans rallied behind their team.
A pivotal moment came when a Kenyan knock-on handed Fiji a scrum deep in their half.
Joji Nasova, already in red-hot form, scored his second try of the match from the ensuing play. The successful conversion saw Fiji gain the lead for the first time in the game, leaving Kenya chasing the game.
Kenya, now fighting tooth and nail, refused to back down. Nygel Amaitsa came agonizingly close to crossing the try line but lacked support at the critical moment. A late scrum offered hope, but Fiji's game management proved superior as they kicked the ball into touch to signal full-time.
Shujaa will now face Uruguay on Saturday 25 January at 7:00 am. The South Americans have been unbeaten in this pool. They started their campaign with a 24-17 win over Fiji before defeating New Zealand 17-14.
