Lionesses started off badly in the tie as Daiana Kazibekova gave the Kazakhs the lead in the 4th minute before Tatyana Dadajanova added another try in the 21st minute to give the opponents a 10-0 lead heading into the break.

Grace Adhiambo’s introduction in the second half seemed to have given the wounded Lionesses a new lease of life as she repeatedly tried to spark her teammates into a full-on assault on the Kazakhs’ 22.

They suffered a temporary setback in the 48th minute as Adhiambo was banished to the sin bin for dangerous play after a TMO review.

Kazakhstan immediately took advantage of their numerical superiority with Yeva Bekker exploiting space on the Kenyans’ right flank to score her team’s third try, which was duly converted to extend the lead to 15-0 in their favour.

Adhiambo stepped back onto the Sevens Stadium pitch in the 60th minute to lead her troops on for the comeback — but not before the Kazakhs extended their advantage.

Kundyzay Baktybayeva scored a penalty goal in the 63rd minute as Adhiambo’s protests to the referee fell on deaf ears.

At this point, it seemed as if the Lionesses were in for another hiding following their 32-0 loss to Spain in their first match on Saturday.

However, from then on, it was all Lionesses as they seemed determined to come away from the duel with something.

Adhiambo, who joined the 15s squad this week after skippering the 7s side at last weekend’s Rugby Africa 7s Olympics qualifiers in Tunisia, produced a fine piece of display in the 65th minute to fend off two opponents before passing to Stella Wafula.

Wafula made a searing run through the Kazakhs’ backline to hand a lifeline to Kenya before Adhiambo stepped up to convert the resultant penalty.

The Lionesses had smelled blood and were determined to turn their opponents into prey.

In the 73rd minute, Priscah Nyerere put her name on the scoreboard when her diagonal run onto the left flank earned Kenya the second try of the game to bring the scores to 18-12.

Channeling the spirit of Mashujaa Day, Lionesses camped in their opponent’s 22, determined to collect their first win of the tournament.

A last-minute line out put them within touching distance of the white line but the Kenyans were let down by a turnover in possession.

Coach Paul ‘Pau’ Murunga’s charges will be looking for redemption when they face Colombia in their next match on Friday next week.