Added Time Try Kills Scotland’S Bowl Hopes

Scotland failed to repeat their Twickenham sevens heroics at Murrayfield when Kenya exacted revenge in added-time to lift the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Seven Bowl. The Africans scorched into an impressive first-half lead with two converted and unanswered tries. Backed by the voices of a 14,170-strong crowd, Scotland fought back with two of their own in the second-half to level-peg the match but the hooter sounded and, after three minutes of added time, it was Kenya who got the agonising winner. Scotland Sevens’ centre, and joint tournament top try-scorer, Jim Thompson, said: “We won four of our six games so it was a great tournament to be part of. I’m obviously gutted to have missed out on the Cup quarter-final by two points [three points and Scotland would have topped the group] and also to lose out to Kenya today in the Bowl final. “Our home support was fantastic. Playing for your country at Murrayfield is something you always dream of and is just a great honour.” Kenya’s opener came through captain, Humphrey Kayange, when the rangy runner cut through midfield and used his reach to hold off the scrambling Scottish defence to score. Lavin Osego slotted the conversion before breaking through to score (and convert) his own try a minute out from half time, with Scotland needing several improvements after the break to get the win. HALF TIME: 14-0 All weekend Scotland had shown their grit and ability to battle back into a match and it was Scotland’s Michael Fedo was stepped up to kick off that resurgence after some good handling created an overlap for the forward to score. Colin Gregor converted (14-7). Moments late Edinburgh’s Lee Jones picked up the baton from Fedo with a lovely finish. The pacy Borderer began the solo-effort with a superb show and go to slip between the Kenyan defence before cutting inside the full-back to complete the lovely score. Gregor added a second conversion and Scotland were level with two minutes remaining. Both minutes edged passed with neither team making an impact but, with the sound of the hooter, game slipped into the perilous position where the next score would win the match or a dead ball would send the tie into sudden death. Sadly for Scotland, after three exhausting minutes of added time, Asego broke free to score, with Victor Oduor’s conversion a formality. FULL TIME: 14-21 Day two attendance: 14107Total attendance: 26405 (The day two attendance, combined with the day one crowd (12,235) means that the tournament has recorded its highest ever ticket sales (26,405), adding around 3000 to the 2010 crowd and 6000 to that of 2008). SCOTLAND SEVENS SQUAD FOR THE EMIRATES AIRLINE EDINBURGH SEVENS: Tom Brown (Edinburgh), Struan Dewar (Edinburgh elite development player), Michael Fedo (Team Northumbria), Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Lee Jones (Edinburgh), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Scott Newlands (Edinburgh), Scott Riddell (Stewart’s Melville), Andrew Skeen (Watsonians), Jim Thompson (Edinburgh), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)