The Kenya Lionesses endured a tough outing against a well-drilled Chinese side, falling 15–12 despite a spirited late comeback in their HSBC SVNS Series 2 encounter.
China struck early, capitalizing on a knock-on advantage to score the opening try and take a 5–0 lead after a missed conversion. The visitors controlled much of the first half, pinning Kenya inside their own 22. Their pressure paid off with a second try again unconverted to extend the advantage to 10–0.
Kenya struggled to gain momentum as China continued to dominate possession and territory. The visitors added a third try before halftime, stretching their lead to 15–0 and leaving the Lionesses under significant pressure.
The second half, however, saw a rejuvenated Kenyan side. The Lionesses tightened their defence, shutting down China’s attacking channels and keeping their red zone well protected. But China, equally resilient, denied Kenya clear scoring chances through solid defensive organisation.
Kenya finally broke through when Freshia Oduor powered over under the posts, reducing the deficit to 15–7. The momentum shifted, and the home crowd came alive as Grace Okullo returning from a medical break crossed for Kenya’s second try to bring the score to 15–12.
Despite the strong finish, time ran out before the Lionesses could complete the comeback.
The Kenyan squad will now turn their focus to their upcoming fixtures against Argentina and Spain as they seek to build on their improved second-day performance.
Women
Round 1
Arg 20-10 China
Spain 12-14 South Africa
Brazil 12-15 Kenya
Round 2
Spain 17-19 Argentina
Brazil 12-00 South Africa
China 15-12 Kenya
Match Day 2 (Women)
Sunday, 15 February 2026
Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
11:00 — China vs South Africa
11:22 — Brazil vs Spain
11:44 — Kenya vs Argentina
15:12 — South Africa vs Argentina
15:34 — Brazil vs China
15:56 — Spain vs Kenya
English