Shujaa, Lionesses get perfect start in Dubai Challenger Series
12th January 2024
Both the men's and women's teams won their opening matches.
- Shujaa recorded a comfortable win after beating Mexico 41-0.
- Lionesses came from behind to win 17-12 over China.
- Both teams play their second matches on Friday.
The national rugby 7s sides Shujaa and Kenya Lionesses got
the perfect starts to the 2024 Challenger Series as they recorded wins in their
opening matches in the first outing of the season taking place in Dubai.
While the men’s side, Shujaa, eased past their opponents,
the women’s outfit, Kenya Lionesses, had to show character in staging a
comeback win against their challengers.
A brace from Kevin Wekesa and Patrick Odongo helped the
Kevin Wambua-led Shujaa to an emphatic 41-0 victory over Mexico with Nygel Amaitsa,
Vincent Onyala and John Okoth each adding a single try in the Pool C rout.
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The victory started with Wekesa touching down twice inside the
opening three minutes to give Kenya a 10-0 lead following missed conversion
attempts on both occasions.
The fleet footed Amaitsa then displayed some neat footwork
inside Mexico’s 22m line before touching down after a cleverly worked switch
pass move off a Kenyan scrum left the Mexicans in sixes and sevens.
Odongo showed his afterburners on two occasions as he bagged
his brace before Okoth got his try in the match after selling a dummy to wrap
up the 41-0 victory.
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“For us every game is like a final and so it demands the
best from each and every player we have. Up next is Uganda and the approach
will be the same for us,” Shujaa co-captain told KRU Media after the game.
Shujaa face Uganda at 5:58pm in their second encounter.
In the women’s game, it was China who went ahead through
Chen Keyi’s unconverted try for a 5-0 lead that they took into the break.
Upon the resumption of the second half, Grace Okulu scored
and converted for a 7-5 lead. It was soon 7-12 to China when Liu Xiaoqian went
over with Gu Yaoyao converting but the Lionesses responded with two tries from
Stella Wafula and Judith Okumu to claim the victory.
Up next for the Lionesses is a clash against Czechia at 3.58pm EAT
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