Late scores lift Kenya over Zimbabwe

Kenya survived a scare in Nairobi to come away with a 45-36 win over Zimbabwe in Gold Cup action on Saturday. The score flatters the Simbas somewhat after the Sables had scored 19 unanswered points in the second half to take a 36-33 lead into the 76th minute. Two late scores from Dalmus Chituyi saved embarrassment for the Kenyans and kept their World Cup hopes alive.

It was an ideal start for the home side as their captain Davis Chenge led by example with three tries himself in the opening quarter. Darwin Mukidza landed all three conversions, but couldn’t quite connect on Tony Onyango’s touchdown in the corner. In the midst of the try explosion Zimbabwe No8 Tapfuma Parirenyatwa had crossed but his team were facing a large deficit with just over 20 minutes on the clock.

Zimbabwe did not wave the white flag. Their outstanding front row trio Denford Mutamangira, David Makanda, and Farai Mudariki each scoring tries while putting immense pressure on the Kenyan scrum. After captain Mutamangira touched down in his 50th cap, the Sables were left shorthanded with Fortunate Chipendo shown yellow for an intentional knock-down.

Without their second row stalwart the Zimbabwe scrum could not hold out and the Kenyans earned a penalty try. Mutamangira’s pass found his front row mate Makanda loitering on the wing for a crucial score just on the edge of halftime.

A 16-point gap remained but incredibly it did not last long. Mudariki pounded over and then Mathew McNab was prevented from scoring by a no-arms tackle from Peter Kilonzo. The center was dispatched for a 10-minute break and the referee awarded a penalty try.

McNab would not be denied on his second attack, taking an offload from Shingirai Katsvere to race in under the posts. He nearly had another when he chipped ahead into in-goal but Onyongo’s desperate dive beat him to the ball by mere centimeters.

Looking rattled and without any points in the second half, Kenya brought on a raft of replacements and got the boost they needed. Moses Amusala and Oliver Mang’eni made inroads and a huge kick into the corner from Mukidza put them in scoring position. It was flanker Dalmus Chityui, winning his first cap, who found the line, wrestling through the middle of a maul.

His dream debut continued with a second score on the game’s final play, in similar circumstances to the first. Mukidza again found the corner on a penalty clearance and Mang’eni charged ahead before Amusala bounced two defenders. Just four meters short, Chituyi provided the necessary muscle to power over and seal the result.

It’s a massive victory for the Simbas, who now have three games remaining in their Gold Cup campaign. Should they defeat Uganda next weekend and Tunisia on August 11, both in Nairobi, it would set up a winner-take-all showdown with favorites Namibia in Windhoek on August 18. Victory would send them straight to World Cup Pool B as the Africa 1 representative. Defeat would place them in the Repechage against Canada and two further opponents still to be determined.

For Zimbabwe the dream has now all but ended. They will need convincing wins over Tunisia and Uganda, and a miracle upset of Namibia along with some help from others to qualify for the Repechage. Realistically their chance has now gone though they will be proud of their efforts against the much-higher ranked Simbas on Saturday.

 

SCORING

KENYA 45
Tries – D. Chenge 2 (5’, 13’, 18’), T. Onyango (21’), Penalty try (35’), D. Chituyi 2 (76’, 80‘)
Cons – D. Mukidza 4/6 (6’, 14’, 19’, 80’)
Yellow cards – P. Kilonzo (50’)

ZIMBABWE 36
Tries – T. Parirenyatwa (10’), D. Mutamangira (27’), D. Makanda (40’) F. Mudariki (45’), Penalty try (50’), M. McNab (55’)
Cons – L. Tambwera 2/5 (28’, 56’)
Yellow cards – F. Chipendo (32’)

 

TEAMS

KENYA
1 Patrick Ouko (17 Moses Amusala 47’), 2 Colman Were (16 Peter Karia 47’), 3 Joseph Odero (18 Curtis Lilako 51’), 4 Andrew Chogo (22 Xavier Bett 56’), 5 Malcolm Onsando (19 Oliver Mang’eni 47’), 6 George Nyambua, 7 Elkeans Musonye (20 Dalmus Chituyi 67’), 8 Davis Chenge (capt.), 9 Samson Onsomu, 10 Isaac Adimo (23 Maxwell Kang’eri 51’), 11 Edmund Anya, 12 Darwin Mukidza, 13 Peter Kilonzo, 14 Tony Onyango, 15 Biko Adema

Not used: 21 Martin Owilah

ZIMBABWE
1 Denford Mutamangira (capt.) (17 Cleopas Kundiona 77’), 2 David Makanda (16 Matthew Mandioma 63’), 3 Farai Mudariki (18 Lawrence Cleminson 51’), 4 Johannes Stander (19 Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa 51’), 5 Fortunate Chipendu, 6 Takudzwa Mandiwanza (20 Brian Nyaude 63’), 7 Connor Pritchard, 8 Tapfuma Parirenyatwa, 9 Ernest Mudzengerere (21 Jeremiah Jaravaza 77’), 10 Lenience Tambwera, 11 Mathew McNab, 12 Brandon Mandivenga, 13 Kudzai Mashawi, 14 Takudzwa Kumadiro (23 Dylan Baptista 63’), 15 Shingirai Katsvere

Not used: 22 Tafadzwa Mhende

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Tual Trainini (FFR)
Assistants: Onencan Charles Syphus (URFU) & Ignace Ndri Kan (FICR)