NAIROBI KENYA – In a high-stakes encounter at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, South Africa’s Springbok Women’s Sevens secured a narrow 12–10 victory over the Kenya Lionesses during the HSBC SVNS Division 2 tournament. The match, defined by tactical discipline and late-game drama, saw the South Africans withstand a fierce second-half surge from the host nation to maintain their standing in the opening leg of the series.
South Africa established an early psychological advantage just two minutes into the contest. Capitalizing on a critical Kenyan lineout error, Shiniqwa Lamprecht seized the loose ball and crossed the whitewash for the opening try. A successful conversion by Nadine Roos quickly brought the score to 7–0, momentarily silencing the home crowd.
However, the momentum shifted when South Africa was reduced to six players following a yellow card issued to Lerato Makua. Kenya’s Lionesses utilized the numerical advantage with clinical efficiency; captain Sheila Chajira spearheaded a patient offensive phase, eventually breaking through the defensive line to dot down for Kenya’s first try. Though the conversion was unsuccessful, the 7–5 scoreline injected a renewed sense of belief into the Kenyan side.
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The respite for the hosts was short-lived. Just before the halftime whistle, South African speedster Maria Tshiremba exploited a gap in the outside channel to score a second try, extending the lead to 12–5. The second half became a grueling defensive battle as Kenya dominated possession and territorial play. The Lionesses’ persistence finally broke the deadlock in the closing minutes when Moreen Muritu sprinted clear for a late try, bringing the hosts within two points.
The final outcome hinged on the subsequent conversion attempt. A missed kick kept the score at 12–10, and despite a frantic final push from Kenya in the dying moments, the South African defense remained composed to see out the clock. While the Lionesses were left to rue the slim margins of defeat, the match reinforced the growing competitiveness of African women’s rugby on the global SVNS stage.
