The Blitzboks overcame a half-time deficit to defeat Kenya 14-7 in their second game at the Sydney Sevens on Saturday. CRAIG LEWIS reports.

In their opening match on day one, Seabelo Senatla scored three of the Blitzboks' six tries as they cruised to a 32-0 win over Japan, but the Springbok Sevens certainly didn't have it all their own way against Kenya.

South Africa initially battled to get their free-flowing game going against a highly physical Kenyan side, but did display impressive composure in the second half to score two quick-fire tries that enabled them to maintain an unbeaten start to day one of competition in Sydney.

After a testy start to the encounter against Kenya, it would be the Blitzboks' African counterparts who scored first through Augustine Lugonzo, which was enough to see them take a surprise 7-0 lead at the break.

Kenya's physical defence had been a feature of their play, but eventually the Springbok Sevens managed to put a sequence of effective attack together as Senatla typically broke away to score midway through the second half.

Less than a minute later and the speedster was at it again as he finished off a movement created with a chip and chase from Rosco Speckman, and suddenly the Blitzboks moved into a 14-7 lead that they held onto until the final whistle.

In their final game on day one, the Blitzboks will play England at 11.11 (SA time).

Photo: Mark Kolbe/World Rugby