In a riveting start to their Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Trophy campaign, Kenya’s Chipu secured a hard-fought victory over Namibia in a nail-biting encounter on Saturday, in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The match unfolded with a flurry of action as both teams exchanged blows in a battle for dominance on the field.
From the outset, it was evident that this clash would be intense, with early penalties traded between Namibia’s Petrus Tromp and Kenya’s Patrick Wainaina, leaving the score tied at 3-3. However, it was Kenya who drew first blood with a brilliant try from Michael Wamalwa, propelling Chipu into an 8-3 lead.
The momentum continued to swing Kenya’s way as a fluid passing display among Chipu’s backs set up Eugene Etale for another try, expertly converted by James Olela, extending the lead to 15-3. Namibia fought back valiantly, with Tromp notching a second penalty to narrow the deficit to 15-6.
But Kenya remained relentless, capitalizing on a loose ball to extend their lead further with a try from Eugene Odhiambo, bringing the score to 20-6, before Olela added a penalty to conclude the first half with Chipu leading 23-6.
The second half saw a spirited resurgence from Namibia, as they mounted a determined comeback, scoring an unconverted try to close the gap to 23-11. However, Olela’s accurate boot kept Kenya in control, adding another penalty to stretch Chipu’s lead to 26-11.
Yet, Namibia refused to back down, launching a remarkable comeback bid with 12 consecutive points, slicing Chipu’s lead to a mere three points at 26-23. The tension mounted as the game reached its climax, with Namibia closing the gap to just one point with an unconverted try, setting the score at 29-28.
However, it was Kenya who had the last word in this thrilling encounter, as they secured the victory with a late try, sealing the final score at 34-28 in their favor.
With this hard-fought triumph, Kenya’s Chipu kick off their Barthes Cup campaign on the front foot, showcasing their resilience and determination on the international stage. Their next challenge awaits as they prepare to face Tunisia in what promises to be another gripping encounter on Wednesday, April.
