The Kenya Lionesses secured their first win in the Challenger Series by beating Samoa 20-5 in Cape Town. Grace Okullo starred with three tries, helping her team to a strong lead. Kenya’s next challenge is against Poland, as they seek a top-four finish to qualify for the HSBC SVNS playoffs.
The Kenya National Women’s Rugby Sevens team, known as the Kenya Lionesses, commenced their Challenger Series campaign with an impressive victory, defeating Samoa by a score of 20-5 on March 1, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa. After several minutes of intense play, team captain Grace Okullo broke through on the left wing to score the Lionesses’ first try, giving them an early lead of 5-0, despite an unsuccessful conversion attempt.
As the match neared halftime, persistent pressure from the Lionesses resulted in Samoa receiving their second yellow card. With a numerical advantage, Grace Okullo capitalized by scoring her second try, extending the lead to 10-0, which they maintained until the halftime whistle. The Lionesses demonstrated effective teamwork and strategy throughout the first half, demonstrating their readiness for the competition.
In the second half, Samoa managed to exploit a defensive slip from the Kenya team, as Malia Nikalau successfully powered through two defenders to score, narrowing the gap to 10-5. Nonetheless, the Lionesses quickly reasserted their dominance, with Naomi Amuguni scoring another unconverted try, extending the lead to 15-5. Shortly thereafter, Grace Okullo completed her hat trick, bringing the final score to 20-5 in favor of Kenya.
The Lionesses are set to face Poland in their next fixture later that day at 7:30 PM. Having lost to South Africa in last year’s Challenger Series final, the Lionesses aspire to secure a top-four finish in the overall rankings, which would qualify them for the HSBC SVNS playoff tournament. The top eight teams from the initial rounds will proceed to the third leg of the Challenger Series scheduled for April 11-12 in Krakow, Poland, with further playoff opportunities in Los Angeles on May 3-4.
The Kenya Lionesses demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork in their 20-5 victory over Samoa in their Challenger Series opener. With Grace Okullo leading the charge, the team aims to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next match against Poland. Their objective remains clear: to secure a top-four position in the series to advance to the prestigious HSBC SVNS playoff tournament.
Original Source: www.tv47.digital
