The Kenya Lionesses secured a 20-5 victory over Samoa in their Challenger Series opener in Cape Town. Captain Grace Okullo starred with three tries, demonstrating the team’s strength as they target a top-four finish to qualify for the HSBC SVNS playoff tournament. They will face Poland next in their ongoing campaign.
The Kenya Lionesses commenced their Challenger Series campaign with a decisive 20-5 victory against Samoa on March 1, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa. Captain Grace Okullo opened the scoring for Kenya with a try after finding space on the left wing, taking an early lead of 5-0 despite a missed conversion. The Lionesses increased their advantage just before halftime as Okullo scored again during a period when Samoa had received their second yellow card, leading 10-0 at the break.
In the second half, Samoa responded with a score from Malia Nikalau, capitalizing on a lapse in Kenya’s defense that tightened the score to 10-5. Nonetheless, the Kenya Lionesses maintained control, with Naomi Amuguni securing another unconverted try, extending the lead to 15-5. Soon after, Grace Okullo completed her hat trick, finalizing the match at 20-5, ensuring victory for the Lionesses.
The Kenya Lionesses will next compete against Poland at 7:30 PM later today. Having narrowly lost 19-12 to South Africa in the previous year’s Challenger Series final, the team aims for a top-four finish in the overall standings to guarantee qualification for the HSBC SVNS playoff tournament. The top eight teams from this round will progress to the upcoming third leg in Krakow, Poland, scheduled for April 11-12.
Following this series, the top four teams will earn their place in the prestigious HSBC SVNS playoff tournament in Los Angeles on May 3-4, where they will vie for entry into the elite HSBC SVNS circuit.
In conclusion, the Kenya Lionesses achieved a commendable start to their Challenger Series with a strong 20-5 win against Samoa. The team’s performance, highlighted by a hat trick from Captain Grace Okullo, demonstrates their competitiveness and ambition to secure a top-four finish for playoff qualification. The upcoming match against Poland will be crucial for advancing in the series.
Original Source: www.tv47.digital
