The SA 1 squad opened their Rugby Africa Solidarity Camp campaign with a hard-fought 26-7 win over the Ugandan sevens team at Stellenbosch on Saturday. The South Africans crossed for four unanswered tries after Uganda opened the scoring to romp away after a sluggish start.

Uganda scored their only try early in the first half to take a 7-0 lead as the South Africans were slow out of the blocks, looking like a side who last faced international opposition 14 months ago.

Their job became a bit easier just before half-time when Uganda suffered a red-card after a tip-tackle, with Ruhan Nel dotting down just before the break.

The second half saw the SA 1 side use their numerical numbers well, with JC Pretorius, Selvyn Davids and Siviwe Soyizwapi scoring tries, which were converted by Branco du Preez (2) and Dewald Human.

Good start against Kenya

The second match, against fellow Olympic qualifers and HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series foes Kenya, saw a different start to the South African effort.

The SA 1 team were out of the blocks much quicker and used every attacking opportunity to put the East African side under pressure, winning by 27-14 after taking a 15-7 lead at the break.

That resulted in three well-worked tries, with Selvyn Davids, Ruhan Nel and Chris Dry at the end of three well executed efforts. Nel's try came after a very good turn-over near the Kenyan line.

Kenya scored just before the break to cut the deficit, but after Dewald Human went over under the sticks early in the second half and Angelo Davids got his first of the day, there was daylight between the sides.

The Kenyans scored their second try in the last play of the game to add another seven points to their tally, but it was all smiles around for the SA side.

Five tries against Zimbabwe

Their third and final match of the day was another productive outing for the SA 1 side as they outplayed Zimbabwe 29-7, scoring five tries on their win to the win.

Three of those came in the first half, courtesy of Ruhan Nel, Selvyn Davids and Angelo Davids, which handed the South Africans a 15-0 lead at the break.

The second half started with a good try by Zimbabwe, before Branco du Preez scored and converted, and Angelo Davids crossed for his second as South Africa closed out the match in convincing fashion.

Ronald Brown scored 15 points for SA 2 against SAS Sevens Academy.

The SA 2 side had a much better start in their opening match against the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport Sevens Academy.

They delivered a strong first half performance to lead 26-0 at the break, which they converted to a 40-0 victory.

Connor Mahoney scored a first half hat-trick, using his pace to good effect. Ronald Brown, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Mervano da Silva got onto the score-sheet as well, with Brown kicking five conversions.

Deserved win over Uganda

In their second match, against Uganda, SA 2 recorded a well-deserved 19-12 win.

The South Africans again started strongly and a brace by James Murphy had them 12-0 up in no time. Uganda responded with a try just before the half-time break and the teams drank water with the score 12-5.

Good forward play helped Impi Visser to extend that lead to 12 points again early in the second half. Visser won one of the very few lineouts of the match and was on hand to receive a scoring pass and dot down.

Uganda scored in the final play of the match, with the scoreline a good refection of the SA effort.

Late Kenya tries the difference

Two late tries proved the difference when the SA 2 side faced their third opponent on the day, with Kenya winning 19-12.

Scores were even at the break (7-7), with a Justin Geduld try late in the first half squaring up the match.

SA 2 took the lead following solid attacking play, with Tiaan Pretorius dotting down for the first points of the half, before Kenya scored twice in the last two minutes to seal the win.

Selvyn Davids shows off his aerial skills.

Scorers:

SA 1 26 (7), Uganda 7 (7) - Tries: Ruhan Nel, JC Pretorius, Selvyn Davids, Siviwe Soyizwapi. Conversions: Branco du Preez (2), Dewald Human.

SA 1 27 (15), Kenya 14 (7) - Tries: Selvyn Davids, Ruhan Nel, Chris Dry, Dewald Human, Angelo Davids. Conversion: Human.

SA 1 29 (15), Zimbabwe 7 (0) - Tries: Ruhan Nel, Selvyn Davids, Angelo Davids (2), Branco du Preez. Conversions: Branco du Preez (2).

SA 2 40 (26), SAS Sevens 0 (0) - Tries: Connor Mahoney (3), Ronald Brown, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Mervano da Silva. Conversions: Ronald Brown (5).

SA 2 19 (12), Uganda 12 (5) - Tries: James Murphy (2), Impi Visser. Conversions: Ronald Brown (2).

SA 2 12 (7), Kenya 19 (7) - Tries: Justin Geduld, Tiaan Pretorius. Conversion: Dewald Human.