Roache's extra-time try seals Australia's nervy 15-10 win over Kenya in Valladolid

Dietrich Roache scored the decisive try in the 16th minute of extra time as Australia defeated Kenya 15-10 in their Pool A opener at the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Valladolid on Saturday. The playmaker burst down the left sideline to settle a contest that had been locked at 10-all at the end of regulation.

Roache’s match-winner was his second try of the afternoon, having also given Australia a 10-5 lead just before half-time. Three-time Olympian Henry Hutchinson had opened the scoring with a second-minute effort, before Kenya hit back through Patrick Odongo Okong’o to level things up. Samuel Mosiori Asati then touched down for Kenya in the second half, and a missed conversion left the scores tied heading into the extra period.

Australia dominated possession and territory throughout extra time but found Kenya’s defence resolute until Roache’s decisive moment. Speaking after the match, the veteran playmaker acknowledged the difficulty of the contest.

“Obviously very important, we know this comp’s very tight. We also know Kenya are a really good team so they’ve pretty much pushed us to the end there,” Roache said. “We’re just happy to get the win but we know we didn’t really play our game. We’ve got an opportunity against GB to fix those wrongs.”

Roache was candid about the physical demands of the performance. “The body’s getting old but for a game like that, under that much pressure, I had to pull something out of the old bag.”

The result keeps Australia’s campaign on track as they look to retain core status by finishing in the top eight on the World Championship standings, while also chasing podium finishes at the two remaining stops in Valladolid and Bordeaux.

“That’s the main goal of our season is to make sure that we finish top eight but as a squad we really have a big vision: just to podium every tournament so that’s what we’re really focusing on,” Roache added. “If we do that, I think we’ll be sweet.”

Elsewhere on the opening day of the three-day tournament in northwestern Spain, New Zealand’s All Blacks Sevens ran in six tries in a commanding 40-0 shutout win over Uruguay in the first men’s match of the event.