By John Kwoba
Nairobi, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Kenya survived a scare having left it late before clutching to a slim 45-36 win over Zimbabwe's Sables in the Rugby Africa Gold Cup in Nairobi Saturday.
It is the second win for the Kenyan side in the tournament, which has six teams competing for continental bragging rights and automatic ticket to the World Cup in 2019 in Japan.
Head coach Ian Snook will tough wood on his decision to hand first cap to debutante Dalmas Chituyi as he made a late substitution but managed to salvage the win from the claws of Zimbabwe in the late quarter of the game.
Chituyi was lucky to cross the line and score two late tries that saw Kenya emerge from 34-36 to win the game 45-36 in a move that deflected Zimbabwe's campaign as they registered their first loss having drawn 23-23 in their first campaign against Morocco in Harare.
The stubborn Zimbabwe were not to be taken lightly as they looked well-structured in their defense. The visitors were more tactically astute and Kenya's head coach will need to up his game if he has to wade through the remaining opposition. Alongside Kenya and Zimbabwe, other teams are Morocco, Tunisia, Namibia and Uganda.
Kenya looked keen to cruise to an easy win after Tony Onyango stretched over the line for his third Gold Cup try having struck twice last weekend in Morocco. But Zimbabwe reduced the deficit through their captain Denford Mutamangira, utilizing the chink in Kenya's defense line. The score was 26-12 for Kenya.
Kenya then had one man advantage after Zimbabwe's Fortunate Chipendu was send to the bench for repeat offense and scored a penalty try to jump to 33-12 up. But Zimbabwe's David Makanda stiff found his strength to make one more try to see the half end with scores at 33-19.
In the second half, Zimbabwe returned stronger to pin Kenya in their half. Leniece Tambwera sprinted away but was denied by Tony Onyango through a tackle. The pressure was too much for Kenya to handle and Peter Kilonzo gave away a penalty as Zimbabwe scored to make it 33-29. Mathew McNab added another try to make the scores at 36-33. But Chituyi made two late tries to win the game 45-36.
Kenya's next match will be against Uganda next weekend.