Late Kenya Lionesses rally falls short as South Africa hold on in Rugby Africa Women's Cup clash
South Africa’s women’s rugby team held off a determined late surge from the Kenya Lionesses to secure a narrow 19-12 win in a tense Rugby Africa Women’s Cup clash in Antananarivo.
South Africa’s women’s rugby team survived a spirited late comeback by the Kenya Lionesses to claim a tense 19-12 win in their second match of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup at Stade Makis in Antananarivo on Wednesday afternoon.
The result was a blow for the Lionesses, who had opened their campaign in emphatic fashion with a 28-5 win over hosts Madagascar. For the Springbok Women, it marked a second successive victory in the tournament, though they were made to work hard for it.
More To Read
- Kenya Lionesses maul Lady Cranes to keep slim title hopes alive
- Kenya Lionesses outclass Madagascar to stay in Rugby Africa Women’s Cup hunt
- Shujaa bounce back, Lionesses struggle in second matches at HSBC SVNS playoffs in LA 7s
- Shujaa and Lionesses face tough SVNS path in Los Angeles after format shake-up
- Shujaa and Lionesses learn pool opponents for high-stakes LA Sevens play-offs
- Kenya Lionesses recover from semifinal loss to clinch third place in Krakow
South Africa took early control of the contest, racing into a 12-0 lead by halftime. Aphiwe Ngwevu crossed the line within the opening minutes, before Lerato Makua added a second try just before the break.
Despite their lead, the Boks were far from convincing. Kenya’s disciplined defence forced several handling errors and disrupted the South Africans’ rhythm, particularly in the lineouts where they struggled to retain possession.
The arm-wrestle continued after the break, but South Africa managed to extend their advantage midway through the second half. A flowing move ended with Nobuhle Mjwara diving over for her first Test try, pushing the score to 19-0.
With time running out, the Lionesses roared back. Freshia Awino sprinted clear to touch down beneath the posts, and Sinaida Mokaya converted to make it 19-7. Moments later, Noleen Khaleyi added a second try out wide, narrowing the deficit to just seven points. The conversion attempt missed, but momentum was firmly with the Kenyans.
In the final minutes, Kenya piled on the pressure and pushed for an equaliser, camping in South Africa’s territory. But the Springboks’ defence stood firm, closing out the game and denying the Lionesses a dramatic comeback.
The Kenyan side will now turn their focus to their final match of the tournament against Uganda on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., where they’ll be aiming to finish on a high.
Top Stories Today
