Host Hong Kong triumph in the Asian 7’s series first leg after thrashing Korea in the finals 40 – 00. However, the highlight of the series is that Japan could not make it to the cup finals for the first time since the series inception in 2011 where they lost to Korea 21 – 28 in semi finals. Tuskers finished 4th and SL women clinched plate.
Cup Quarter Final (SL v ML)
Malaysians scored the first try within 30 seconds of Fazil Marija’s kick off but once again Anurudda Wilwara was unstoppable for the opposition as he equalized the score. Malaysian’s on the attack few meters close to try line n Nigel Ratwatte turns over the ball and runs blind and switches his direction to find Wilwara as his pass was collected sweetly by Wilwara who scored his second try under the post. The Malaysians narrowed the deficit before the half time with a try in the left corner but missed the conversion (HT14:12)
Flamboyant Wilwara received the ball from the restart and was magnificent to execute another solo try to make the second hat-trick in the tournament. Tuskers with possesion saw Nigel Ratwatte collecting Marija’s pass and nipping through the middle for the fourth try under the post. A bit of patchy indifference lead the Malaysians to come back in to the game with a try but Danushka Ranjan coming in to the field scored one more try under the post where debutant Hirantha Perera missed his first nervous points under the post as it hit the left bar.
Cup Semi Final (SL v HK)
The Tuskers could not capitalise the ball possesion making so many errors and could not match the physicality of the opposition in the rucks and one on one situations. This is perhaps the time to feel the absence of Shenal Dias, Yoshitha Rajapaksa and our Fiji brothers Waqaulagi Emori & Joseph Dunn. Hong Kong’s catalyst and the playmaker Tom McQueen scored a brilliant try in reply to which Wilwara showing his class in the corner ran a 40m and off loaded to Marija who could not hang on to it as a result missed a juicy try for the Tuskers.
At the half time 07 – 00 behind for Tuskers, the restart after lemons was poor as it went straight to the touch. Hong Kong taking their time,Yiu kam Shing scored the second try. It was certainly not Marija’s time of the day after playing superbly in the quarter finals he made a school boy error as the pass went in to touch. Dinusha Chathuranga ran 40m and his try attempt was denied by McQueen’s brilliant cover tackle, again Tuskers lost ball possession. In addition to this replacement winger Jack Capon scored the last try for Hong Kong as they won 21 – 00.
Third Place (SL v JPN)
Tuskers could not hold on to the Japanese strength and power including high ball at the kick off which was stolen by the Japanese. Poor defence and lack of communication in the middle cost the game as the Japanese ran 3 tries in the first 3 minutes. When the score was 28 – 00 in favor of Japan, Dinusha Chathuranga made a wonderful break before the half time and scored a 85m running try.
Japan carried the momentum in to the second half and scored two more tries while tuskers had no clue to retain the ball. Finally, Marija showing a never give up attitude stepped two defenders and passed to Dinusha Chaturanga who switched the directions and scored the consolation try for the Tuskers. Marija missed the easy conversion. (Full time 42 – 12)
Overall Sri Lanka earned 4th position and have been drawn in (pool B) alongside China and Kazakhstan for the second leg of Asian 7’s series in Malaysia next month.
Japan finished third and Hong Kong beat Korea (40 – 00) in the cup finals to claim the first place.
