Kenya Simbas survived a late Ugandan pressure to qualify for the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup semifinals after knocking out the Rugby Cranes 32-24 in an entertaining quarterfinal match played today at the Mandela National Stadium in Uganda.
After leading by 19 points with 15 minutes left on the clock, the hosts scored two late tries in an attempt to sting the Simbas who showed class and calm in disaster to hold off the comeback attempt and win.
Griffin Chao scored a brace for Kenya as Barry Young and captain George Nyambua also crossed over the white wash in the win. Jone Kubu added conversions while Barry Young sealed it with two drop goals.
The Simbas showed they learnt a lot form their high intensity training camp in South Africa when Griffin Chao sold a pair of wheels on the left wing to score near the corner for 5-0 lead after Timothy Omela missed the conversion.
Kenya returned to the score sheet again when Barry Young picked an offload from Jone Kubu to score between the sticks for 12-0.
Silenced by the earlier Kenyan dominance, Aaron Ofoyrwoth awakened the thousands of Ugandan fans on the stands with a try at the half hour mark, Joseph Aredo adding the extras to cut Kenya’s lead to 12-7.
In the final half, Simbas picked from where they left, however, this time Barry Young splitting the posts with a drop goal for 15-7 lead.
Aredo replied with a penalty for Uganda to cut the lead again to 15-10 before Kenya went on a 10-minute rampage.
George Nyambua grounded Kenya’s third try of the match at the hour mark after a strong scrum turn over, bulldozing his way over the white wash to score a try that Kubu converted to stretch the scores to 22-10.
Six minute later, Kenya Cup champion Chao danced his way to the try box for his brace after splitting the Ugandan defense who committed their front row in a line out after a deep throw from Eugene Sifuna. The beautiful set play saw Simbas lead 29-10.
Not wanting to disappoint their fans, Uganda awakened again this time by former Kabras Sugar full back Philip Wokorach who beat two Kenyan defenders to score between the posts for 29-17 after Adero’s conversion.
Almost immediately, Adrian Kasito chip and chase caught the Kenyan defense napping, beating Samwel Asati before a loose ball enabled Byron Oketayot to ground the ball for Uganda who cut the gap to 29-24 after Wokorach’s conversion.
Barry Young sealed Kenya’s win with a late drop goal for a 32-24 win.
Kenya will now face off with Zimbabwe in the semifinals while Namibia play Algeria in the other semifinals.
The tournament acts as a qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The champion will qualify for the World Cup.