Kenya made a poor start to the Rugby World Cup 2023 Repechage tournament in Dubai after failing to 68-14 defeat to United States of America in their opening match at the Sevens Stadium on Sunday.
The winner of the four-nation round-robin tournament involving Kenya, USA, Portugal and Hong Kong, will join two-time champions Australia, Wales, Fiji and Georgia in Group C of next year’s global showpiece in France.
The Americans scored nine tries and eight conversions to bug a winning bonus point against Kenya’s two tries.
Dylan Fawsitt and Christian Dyer were the heroes of the day, grounding a hattrick of tries each each for the emphatic win.
USA’s other tries were scored by Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, Nate Augspurger, Mike Feagai and Mitch Wilson as fly half AJ MacGinty and Luke Carthy claimed 18 points with their boots.
Brian Juma and Joshua Weru scored a try each for the East Africans with David Mukdiza making the two conversions.
USA showed intent from onset, capitalizing on Kenya’s poor defence to take the lead through Dylan Fawsitt’s two quick tries before Jamason made it 19-0 at the stroke of the halftime.
Three minutes after the restart, Dylan made his third ty that was followed by another from Christian Carty to make it 33-0.
However, Kenya responded immediately through Brian Juma’s try that was converted by Mukdiza but the Simbas celebration were cut short by Nates and AJ Macginty’s converted tries.
Wilson and Macginty’s converted tries followed to open USA’s lead to 50 points but JJoshua Weru produced a fine a stunning performance to five Kenya their second converted try with two minutes remaining to the end of the match.
Kenya face Portugal in the next fixture on November 12 as USA battle with Hong Kong in the second round of the tournament.
