Sri Lanka Tuskers failed to live up to the expectations as they were overpowered by Asia’s second best South Korea by 59 points ( 4G, 5T, 2P) to 3 (1P) in the 2014 Asian 5 Nations opening game at Incheon Munchak Stadium in South Korea on Saturday.
The match commenced on 12 noon local time (08.30am SL time) and the game was kicked off by the Korean place kicker Kim Won Yong. South Korea started off the game in a dominant way as they scored two early tries in the first 10 minutes by their mobile forwards of which one was converted by No.11 Kim Won Yong.
Sri Lanka conceded the 3rd try in the 17th minute when Sri Lankan fly half Niroshan Fernando tried to rescue his team from inside their goal line but the Korean fly half charged down and scored to extend their lead to 17 points. The Sri Lankans were out of sorts as the marauding Koreans touched down for the 4th time in the 25th minute as the South Korean flanker Kim Jeong Min finished off a perfect set move to gain the bonus point early in the game. Conversion was unsuccessful by No.10 Lee.
Sri Lanka got on the scoreboard for the first time in the 28th minute, when their reliable place kicker Riza Mubarak fired across a 40 meter penalty kick to set the scores on 22 points to 3 but the South Koreans followed up Riza’s penalty kick with Kim Jeong Min bisecting the posts from a 25 meter penalty kick in the 30th minute of the game.
South Korea continued their try scoring spree in the first half when hard working prop forward Park Jong Yeul barged over for the 5th Korean try just before the half time whistle. Kim Jeong Min failed to add the extra points.
Half Time: South Korea 30 – Sri Lanka 03
After the break, Riza Mubarak kicked off the second half. Sri Lanka started off the second half with lot more intent and an impressive strategic plan as they pressurized the Koreans dragging them deep inside their 22’ meter territory but the Tuskers failed to convert the pressure into points.
South Korea regained their first half momentum in the 54th minute when their number 8 Lee Kwang Moon scored from the back of a 5 meter scrum to record the 1st score of the second half and the 6th Korean try of the match. Kim Jeong Min’s conversion was successful as the Korean score moved to 37 points. Sri Lanka injected new blood from the bench to make a mark in the final 20 minutes but the agile and strong Koreans were superior in their set plays and in open play.
Replacement hooker Son Young Gi barged over for another try with 20 minutes remaining on the clock as the Koreans started to open the flood gates in the one sided 2014 Asian 5 Nations tournament opener. South Korea inched towards their half century score when their accurate place kicker Kim Jeong Min put over another penalty kick in the 65th minute when Sri Lanka committed another infringement.
With less than 10 minutes to go Sri Lanka got a rare penalty attempt which was missed by Riza Mubarak. South Koreans communicated brilliantly as they played perfectly to their game plan as Kim Hyun Soo scored the 8th try of the game from a cheeky break from the half way line.
Sri Lanka almost scored their one and only try for the match when 7s sensation Srinath Sooriyabandara chased down a clever kick but he knocked on to the disappointment of his team.
Song Byeong Ho scored the 9th and final try for South Korea in the final minute of the game as referee Otsuki Taku blew the final long whistle after Kim Jeong Min’s conversion was successful.
Sri Lanka Tuskers will have lot to ponder upon as they will host Hong Kong next week while South Korea will be pretty pleased with their effort against the Sri Lanka outfit.
Full Time: South Korea 59 – Sri Lanka 03
