Simbas claim Bronze in Stellenbosch after impressive victory over Brazil

The national men's rugby 15s side, Kenya Simbas, wrapped up their Stellenbosch Challenge Tournament in style as they managed to record their first win of their South African tour after beating South American nation Brazil 30-36 in 3rd/4th playoff match staged at the Markotter Field on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides came into the encounter looking to restore some sense of pride after being defeated in the semifinals played last weekend. Additionally, the Simbas were still in search of the first win in their South African tour which served as extra motivation for the national side.

However, it is the Brazilians who made the brightest start in the match as they set up camp in the Kenyan half early on. Assured kicking from Lucas Tranquez ensured the team raced to a 6-0 early lead as the Simbas made a slow start to the game.

After quarter of an hour, though, Kenya managed to get the scoring feel for the first time when the ever switched on Jone Kubu successfully nailed a penalty kick awarded to the team as he halved the deficit to 6-3.

Upon sensing danger, the Brazilians opened up a ten point gap as Devon Muller got the game’s very first try that was successfully converted by Tranquez who was not messing from the boot, Brazil going 13-3 ahead.

It is after that moment that Kenya completely came alive as they started making inroads in the game. First, Kubu delicately sliced his way through the opponent's defense after a furious attacking phase that ended up with the Kabras Sugar player touching down the team’s first try that he duly converted to reduce the deficit to 13-10.

The Simbas then managed to take a first time lead in the game after John Okoth beat his markers and raced over the whitewash to put Kenya 13-15 ahead after an unsuccessful conversion attempt.

Minutes before the break, Brazil thought they would hold the advantage at the interval when Tranquez once again nailed his penalty to take them 16-15 ahead with two minutes left but Vincent Onyala was not letting up as he touched down Kenya’s third try that was converted again by Kubu to give the team a 16-22 lead at the break.

The second half got off to a very frenetic start and Kenya immediately found themselves on the back foot when Thomas Okeyo was sent to the sin bin for stopping a scoring opportunity, Kenya reduced to fourteen men and Brazil awarded a penalty try that saw them retake a 23-22 lead.

As soon as they went down, Simbas showed impressive resilience as they hit right back through Kubu who bagged his brace with Matoka Matoka adding the extras to restore Kenya's lead at 23-29.

For a second time, the Brazilians were again awarded a penalty try after their powerful scrum was illegally stopped by the Kenyans, the lead changing hands again to 30-29 in favour of the South Americans.

Brought off from the bench, Samuel Asati ended up winning the game for Kenya when he got himself at the right place at the right time to score the fourth and final try of the game that was successfully converted by Kubu to get the game to a full time score of 30-36 and clinch a Bronze place finish.