Watch: Kenya’s heartbreaking no-try as All Blacks Sevens win a thriller

After failing to qualify for the Men’s Cup quarter-finals at SVNS Perth, New Zealand have finished ninth overall after beating Kenya 19-12 on Sunday. It was a tense match that went right down to the wire, with Kenya coming within millimetres of an incredible try with time up on the clock.

The All Blacks Sevens missed out on the top eight at Perth’s HBF Park after falling to Uruguay and Fiji during pool play. While they had never been beaten by the Uruguayans, the Teros Sevens were in a history-making mood after stunning Fiji earlier on day one in Western Australia.

New Zealand had started their campaign on Australia’s west coast with a confidence-building 29-14 win over newly promoted Kenya, who are back on the HSBC SVNS Series after impressing on the Challenger Series during the 2023/24 season.

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Tomasi Cama’s men had an opportunity to all but secure their place in the next round against Uruguay and then Fiji but failed to do so. Instead, they were left to battle it out with Ireland, the USA and Kenya for a best possible finish of ninth place on a scorching weekend.

Ireland were no match for the New Zealanders late on day two, with the men in black piling on their points with their best performance of the tournament. Youngster Oli Mathis was particularly impressive with a double during an emphatic 42-5 triumph.

That saw the All Blacks Sevens book their place in the ninth-place playoff where they would meet Kenya. It was quite fitting they’d meet the Kenyans again considering the New Zealanders had played them to open the tournament, and would do so again in their final match.

SVNS Series veteran Regan Ware broke the deadlock in the third minute with a runaway try, but it was all Kenya for the remainder of the first half. Patrick Odongo Okong’o and Vincent Onyala crossed for a try each as the Kenyans took a 12-7 lead into the half-time break.

But New Zealand’s big name players stood tall during the second term with playmaker Andrew Knewstubb and captain Dylan Collier scoring a try each. That saw the Kiwis take hold of the contest with a 19-12 lead with about one minute left to play in regulation.

Unfortunately for the All Blacks Sevens, Knewstubb sent the restart into touch on the full which gifted Kenya possession with about 30 seconds left to play. They threw everything at the New Zealanders, as they attacked with precision, patience and poise.

Kenya were awarded a penalty advantage after an infringement at the breakdown but chose to play on anyway. After a kick downfield, replacement Floyd Wabwire got his foot to the ball before continuing to chase with sheer determination.

THIS is how close Kenya were to beating New Zealand 🤏#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSPER pic.twitter.com/Ge9oZ8BPwN

— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) January 26, 2025

The ball dribbled closer and closer to the deadball line but Wabwire never gave up and was so nearly rewarded. Kenya’s no. 25 dove in desperation and got a hand to the ball, but still, he immediately dropped his head as the ball ran dead.

As fans were left glued to either their TVs at home or the big screen at HBF Park, the TMO intervened and began to show a slow motion replay. But unfortunately for Kenya, Wabwire had placed the ball on the deadball line.

It also seemed that Wabwire had touched the line with his hand before placing the ball anyway.

If Wabwire had placed the ball within the in-goal and the try had been awarded, Kenya would’ve had an opportunity to level the scores at 19-all with a last play conversion. But that’s nothing more than a ‘what if’ now, with the All Blacks Sevens escaping with the win.

New Zealand finished ninth on the men’s draw while Kenya placed 10^th. In the 11^th place play-off, Ireland got the better of Lucas Lacamp’s USA in a closely-contested clash that finished 19-17 earlier on day three at the HSBC SVNS Series event.