A 67-0 whitewash of the Cayman Islands was not enough for the Kenyan Chipu after the USA scored a vital bonus point in their 29-25 win over Namibia on Wednesday afternoon that secured top spot in Pool A and an appearance in the IRB's Junior World Rugby Tournament in Nairobi.
The Chipu will now play in the classification matches for third and fourth position on Sunday.
The Chipu will now play in the classification matches for third and fourth position on Sunday.
The match
Ken Andola opened the scoring on 9 minutes with a drop goal before flanker Oscar Ouma touched on 14 minutes. Andola missed the conversion as Kenya led 8-0. Hooker Matthew Musalia stretched Chipu's lead on 19 minutes. Andola was sure with this conversion as the scores read 15-0 to thee home side.
Ken Andola opened the scoring on 9 minutes with a drop goal before flanker Oscar Ouma touched on 14 minutes. Andola missed the conversion as Kenya led 8-0. Hooker Matthew Musalia stretched Chipu's lead on 19 minutes. Andola was sure with this conversion as the scores read 15-0 to thee home side.
The match turned into a physical affair with Kenya's eighth man Ken Isindu dominating, taking the ball to the Caribbean Islanders with his no holds barred straight running.
Patrice Agunda scored Kenya's third try of the match on 32 minutes after being put through by Andola who sliced open the Cayman Islands backline. Andola's conversion saw the Chipu lead 22-0.
Minutes later,Isindu the workhorse beat his defenders, again with his hard running but team captain Eric Kioko knocked on with the try line in sight.
Half time score Kenya 22 Cayman Islands 0
Kenya head coach Mitch Ocholla's half time pep talk must have fired impetus into their attack, they came into the second half guns blazing and scored on 47 minutes when Ouma touched down for his second try of the match. Andola's conversion saw Kenya lead 29-0.
Dennis Karani piled on the misery when he scored on 54 minutes. Andola again converted as Kenya ran to a 36-0 lead.
Roving flanker Ouma completed his hat trick on 57 minutes as the Chipu continued to pound the Caymans into submission. Scores at this point, 41-0.
A Kenyan attack was countered by the Caymans defence who opted to raise the ball. Substitute Felix Ayange gathered the miskick, sidestepped his marker and raced to the tryline on 60 minutes. Kenya 46 Cayman Islands 0.
Isindu continued to torment his Cayman Islands defenders, hitting them at will and scored in the 66th minute through Jeremy Njoroge who had replaced Matt Musalia at hooker. Andola's conversion made it 53-0 to Kenya.
Isindu finally got just reward for his hard running and big hits when he touched down in characteristic fashion on 75 minutes. He powered his way past four Caymans defenders befored touching down under the posts. Andola took the scores to 60-0 for the Kenyan Chipu's.
Speaking after the match, Mitch Ocholla, Kenya's head coach, praised his charges, saying they had stuck to the intended game plan.
Last minute heartbreak
Kenya, with one foot in the final, were depending on the results of the second group game between Namibia and the USA .Everything seemed to going Chipu's way when the USA led Namibia 12-10 for large intervals of the match.
(Kenya needed the USA to beat Namibia without getting a bonus point as this would have ensured their participation in the JWRT final).
The match ended in a 29-25 win for the USA's Junior Eagles who topped the pool on 12 points, one more than Kenya's 11 points. The much fancied Namibia finished third in the pool. The dejection was plain to see on the faces of the over 700 fans who turned up at the RFUEA to cheer Chipu into an historic JWRT finals appearance.
The USA will play Romania who beat Chile 26-20 in an entertaining clash. Kenya plays Chile in the classification for 3rd and 4th position.
Bob Johnson, the US Junior Eagles captain was impressed with the level of play exhibited at the JWRT and singled out Kenya and Namibia as worthy opponents.
Romania's captain Eduard Marinca said that the game against Chile was tough, as they were similarly matched in terms of physique but praised his side's fighting spirit which enabled them seal victory at a time when Chile had closed the scores to 21-20 with minutes left on the clock.
Sunday's order of play
7/8 playoff South Korea v Cayman Islands 11.30 am
5/6 playoff Namibia v Papua New Guinea 11.30 am
3/4 playoff Kenya v Chile 1.30 pm
Bob Johnson, the US Junior Eagles captain was impressed with the level of play exhibited at the JWRT and singled out Kenya and Namibia as worthy opponents.
Romania's captain Eduard Marinca said that the game against Chile was tough, as they were similarly matched in terms of physique but praised his side's fighting spirit which enabled them seal victory at a time when Chile had closed the scores to 21-20 with minutes left on the clock.
Sunday's order of play
7/8 playoff South Korea v Cayman Islands 11.30 am
5/6 playoff Namibia v Papua New Guinea 11.30 am
3/4 playoff Kenya v Chile 1.30 pm
FINAL USA v Romania 3.30 pm
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