Kenya avoided relegation from the Africa Cup Division 1A with a convincing 46-15 win at home to Tunisia on Sunday – a result which improved their World Rugby Ranking by 0.32 of a point.
The Simbas remain 30th in the world, on 54.63 points, after the six tries to nil victory at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi. Tunisia, though, fall two places to 41st with the defeat with Brazil and Senegal the beneficiaries.
Kenya utility back Darwin Mukhidza (pictured below right) capped a man-of-the-match display with 26 of his side’s points including a brace of tries, while all of Tunisia's points came from the boot of Khlifa Eddin.
“Top 30 is not enough,” said Kenya captain Brian Nyikuli. “We want to get into the top 25. If we get into the top 25 we’ll get more funds and we’ll be able to grow rugby – not only as a Kenya national team but down to the grass roots as well.”
Kenya and Tunisia went into the game knowing that anything less than a win would see them drop down a level, as both had suffered eight-point defeats to Zimbabwe and Namibia respectively in their opening Africa Cup fixtures.
Tunisia twice led in an evenly-contested first half and the North Africans were only two points down at the break, at 14-12, after Kenya had posted two converted tries through Mukhidze and Samuel Oliech to three penalties and a drop goal from Eddin in reply.
The second half continued in much the same vein with both sides asking questions of each other, but it was the Simbas who were on the scoreboard first through a Mukidze penalty.
Mukidze then raced over for his second try of the match before Eddin made it a 'one score game' again with his fifth kick of the match.
From that point, though, it was a different story altogether as the Simbas took control to score three more tries against a Tunisian side who finished the match with 14 men following Haythem Cheli’s sin-binning on 79 minutes.
Oliech scored his second before being joined on the scoresheet by Moses Amusala and replacement Vincent Mose as Kenya warmed up for their test against Spain on 18 July in style.
Speaking after the match, Kenya coach Jerome Paarwater said: " I told the boys to keep their cool and stay focused on the job and I am glad that they heeded the instructions and delivered the result.”
Zambia win promotion
Meanwhile, Zambia clinched the Africa Cup Division 1C title and promotion to Division 1B after recording their second win in as many matches with a 19-12 victory against Zimbabwe A in Lusaka. Six days earlier Zambia had beaten Nigeria 15-8.
The Zimbabwe A side had led 12-5 at the break after tries from Tawanda Chowe and Anmpas Kamkwindo cancelled out a sixth minute effort from Zambia centre Martin Chisanga. In the second-half, Israel Kalumba crossed twice, both tries being converted by Larry Kaushiku, as Zambia launched a successful comeback.
Photo credits: Brian Ayieko