Struggling Shujaa Finish 14th In LA Sevens, Turn Focus To Vancouver Leg

2nd March 2020 - by Louis Kalinga

Paul Feeney’s charges now turn their focus to the sixth stop of the series in Vancouver this coming weekend where they have been pooled with New Zealand, Ireland and Spain in Pool C.

Scott Curry of New Zealand (L) runs with the ball in the men's round three match against Kenya during the Sydney Sevens rugby tournament at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney on February 2, 2020. PHOTO | AFP

SUMMARY

Shujaa's woes at the 2019/20 HSBC World Rugby Sevens series continued as they picked up a meagre two points from the Los Angeles leg early Monday morning after finishing in 14th place
In LA, Shujaa won only two matches, one group tie against Ireland and the 13th place play-off semi against Wales, before losing the final to Scotland in Sudden death despite staging a comeback at halftime.
Alec Coombes scored in sudden death to hand the Scots the 13th place trophy and three points of the series while Shujaa had to contend with just two, not much improvement from the Sydney 7s where they picked up a single point.

NAIROBI, Kenya- Shujaa's woes at the 2019/20 HSBC World Rugby Sevens series continued as they picked up a meagre two points from the Los Angeles leg early Monday morning after finishing in 14th place.

Paul Feeney’s charges now turn their focus to the sixth stop of the series in Vancouver this coming weekend where they have been pooled with New Zealand, Ireland and Spain in Pool C.

In LA, Shujaa won only two matches, one group tie against Ireland and the 13th place play-off semi against Wales, before losing the final to Scotland in Sudden death despite staging a comeback at halftime.

Alec Coombes scored in sudden death to hand the Scots the 13th place trophy and three points of the series while Shujaa had to contend with just two, not much improvement from the Sydney 7s where they picked up a single point.

The Kenyans started off their campaign with a 31-5 loss to eventual champions South Africa before recovering with a 29-12 win over Ireland in their second pool match.

However, hopes of qualifying to the Main Cup quarters were quashed when they suffered a 24-0 thrashing at the hands of Canada to finish third in the pool.

They went in to the ninth place play-off where their luck continued to dip, losing the quarter final tie 28-19 to Samoa, a defeat that saw them sink further into the 13th place play-off.

They won 29-5 against Wales, but couldn’t keep the momentum to the final as Shujaa remain 11th in the standings with 29 points, 11 away from 10th placed Canada.