Kenya 7s suffered another setback in Bordeaux after falling 7-5 to Germany, extending their winless run in the tournament and leaving them to battle for 11th place.
Shujaa came into the fixture targeting a much-needed win to improve their push for a ninth-place finish, but a defensive lapse in the first half proved costly.
Kenya 7s beaten
Germany broke through after exploiting space on the outside from deep inside Kenya’s half. Felix Hufnagel finished off the move with a well-timed burst through the defensive line to score the only try of the first half. The conversion was added for a 7-0 lead at the break.
Kenya responded after the restart with improved urgency. Samuel Asati created the opening with a smart offload that released Patrick Odongo, who crossed for Kenya’s only try of the match. However, the conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 7-5.
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Despite sustained late pressure, Kenya were unable to break down a disciplined German defensive line in the closing stages.
The result means Shujaa will now contest the 11th-place playoff, where a win would earn them 16 points. Their final ranking will also depend on results elsewhere, particularly the USA’s performance in the 7th-place playoff, which could see them finish on 17 points.
Kenya will now turn focus to finishing their campaign strongly and salvaging maximum possible points from their remaining fixture.
