Cape Town 7s: Kenya Sevens semifinal slot hangs in balance after loss to Spain
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 07.12.24. | 17:59
The Kevin Wambua-coached side was coming off a 19-12 victory over Australia
Kenya Sevens showcased their resilience and flair but ultimately fell 14-7 to Spain in a tightly contested match played on Saturday 7 December at the Cape Town Stadium in South Africa.
The game was marked by Kenya’s dominance in possession and missed opportunities that tipped the scales in Spain’s favour.
The Kevin Wambua-coached side was coming off a 19-12 victory over Australia.
Spain started strong, gaining possession immediately after kickoff. However, Kenya quickly took control with a well-executed maul that allowed them to launch their first attack.
The team understood the threat Spain posed with the ball and worked hard to keep them on the defensive.
Kenya thought they had scored early when Kevin Wekesa crossed the try line following a lineout.
However, the referee disallowed the try, ruling the line out uncontested. Despite the setback, Kenya maintained their composure and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession throughout the half.
A mistake at the ruck allowed Spain to regain the ball briefly, but Kenya’s relentless pressure forced turnovers and kept them in contention.
As the half wound down, Spain found a breakthrough. A well-crafted play saw them go over for the first try of the match, with the successful conversion giving them a 7-0 halftime lead.
Kenya came out firing in the second half. Straight from kickoff, Patrick Odongo dazzled with a breathtaking solo effort, sprinting past Spain’s defense to touch down under the posts.
The conversion was good, levelling the scores at 7-7 and injecting fresh energy into Kenya’s charge.
Kenya cranked up the pressure, earning a penalty in Spain’s territory. Yet, Spain’s defense held firm and they turned defense into attack. A decisive series of passes led to Jeremy Trevithick scoring the match-winning try.
In the dying moments, Kenya had a chance to equalize after a Spanish infringement in their danger zone. However, they failed to capitalize, and Spain kicked the ball to touch, sealing their victory.
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