The Sri Lanka Under 20s outshone Chinese Taipei at Kings Park, Hong Kong, running in six tries in a dominant 38-15 victory.
Sri Lanka started the game in fine form, scoring the opening 19 points and defending well. However, their discipline let them down briefly as Lee got himself sent to the sin bin and Taipei managed to cut back the deficit on either side of half-time.
Sri Lanka came flying out of the blocks, immediately working themselves up in to Taipei territory after repelling a spell of sustained pressure. Janidu Dilshan, after winning a turnover deep inside the Taipei half, shifted the ball to Dinuk Amerasinghe who did well to throw an inside pass to Gemunu Chethiya as he crossed for his first ever Asian Rugby try. Harith Bandara added the extras with ease. (SL 07-00 CT)
Sri Lanka had it their way early in the game courtesy of two classic successive tries by Dinuk Amerasinghe and Janidu Dilshan as they went into a 19-0 lead. Both Dinuk and Janidu fended off defenders for their tries, getting their opportunity courtesy errors from the Taipei scrum-half. Harith Bandara however could only convert Dinuk’s under the post try. (SL 19-00 CT)
However, Xen Wen Lu reduced the deficit with some individual brilliance coasting to the right of the poles in the 6th minute, but the Tuskers hit straight back. Janidu Dilshan scored a superb solo try a minute later, running around the outside of several Taipei defenders before stepping inside another to finish off his second try of the game. Chathura Senevirathne added the extras when the Taipei Scrum-half failed. The referee then blew the long whistle for half time with Sri Lanka in a commanding lead. (SL 26-05 CT)
Half Time: Sri Lanka 26(4T 3C) – 05(1T) Chinese Taipei
The second half was mostly one-way traffic, and despite a late fightback from the Chinese, the Tuskers comfortably held on for the win. Sri Lanka continued to attack in the second half, however a couple of loose passes by the center-combination of Sri Lanka led to two easy tries for Xin Liu as Taipei orchestrated a brief comeback, cutting back the deficit to 26-15. The game would have been more interesting had the kicker turned over the 4 extras from the conversions. (SL 26-15 CT)
Minutes later, the Tuskers launched an attack inside the opponents’ 22m and Thulaib Hassen crossed in the left-hand corner to put more daylight between his side and their hosts. Harith Bandara failed to put through the conversion this time around. (SL 31-15 CT)
However, if the game hadn’t already been won by Sri Lanka, Randy Silva finished it off in the dying moments. After receiving the ball from Heshan Jansen who initially evaded two Taipei defenders with a great run, which took him almost all the way to the try line, he passed to Silva who dotted down for the match-clinching finish. Bandara added the extras. (SL 38-15 CT)
Sri Lanka hence booked their spot in the Semi-Finals. They will however have another group stage match early tomorrow where they will take on Singapore before they take on either Hong Kong or South Korea in the Semi-Finals.
Full Time: Sri Lanka 38(6T 4C) – 15(3T) Chinese Taipei
Score Breakdown
Sri Lanka
Janidu Dilshan (2T)
Gemunu Chethiya (1T)
Dinuk Amerasinghe (1T)
Thuliab Hassen (1T)
Randy Silva (1T)
Harith Bandara (3C)
Chathura Senevirathne (1C)Chinese Taipei
Len Wen YU (1T)
Xin Liu (2T)
Watch – Highlights – Sri Lanka vs Chinese Taipei | Asia U20 Sevens
Sri Lanka vs China
The Sri Lanka Junior Tuskers secured a 26-14 victory over China in their opening fixture of the Asia U20 Rugby Sevens Series at the King’s Park Stadium in Hong Kong a short while ago.
China enjoyed the better of the beginning of the game, but faded in the final quarter to finish well behind the Lankans.
In a fast-paced and entertaining match in torrid rain, the defensive efforts from both teams left a lot to be desired.
The opening exchanges were evenly contested, and it was the visitors Sri Lanka who drew first blood courtesy of a captain Naveen Henakankanamage try following a penalty infringement at a ruck. Naveen touched down easily in the corner after the ball had travelled through hands following the quick tap. Chathura Senevirathne failed to find the target from the flank. (SL 05-00 CHN)
Photo Album – Sri Lanka vs China | Asia Rugby U20 7’s Series #Match 1
Sri Lanka suffered a ten-minute onslaught after the restart, initially absorbing the pressure but the handling let them down as the game progressed. The Chinese scrum half made the initial break to send the Sri Lankan defense backpedaling. Yen Lu the big number 8 for China grabbed his brace, using the decoy runners on his right to run through a scrambling Tusker’s defense untouched and then added the extras himself. (SL 05-07 CHN)
Yen Lu scored his second try of the game, scoring right after the restart, when he profited from a beautiful long pass initially from the playmaker over the top to find the left wing who was taken down meters from the try line. Lu picked and ran in for the simplest of run-ins from behind the ruck. His conversion made it a 9-point game going into the half time. (SL 05-14 CHN)
Half Time: Sri Lanka 05(1T) – 14(2T 2C) China
Sri Lanka made a terrific start to the second half when, from the kick-off, they took the ball through a couple of phases before striking out wide where Dinuk Amerasinghe carried strongly carving his way under the post, fending off a couple of defenders on his way. Harith Bandara added the extras to cut back the deficit to a couple of points. (SL 12-14 CHN)
Dinuk Amerasinghe was the sharpest man on the field when he sniped over from a quick tap penalty which caught everyone unawares to break initially, eventually managing to extend the lead to 17-14. Amerasinghe, the power-house of Sri Lanka, landed a couple of hefty ward-offs before taking his time to dot down under the posts. Harith Bandara yet again had no issues with the conversion. (SL 19-14 CHN)
The final nail in the coffin was sealed by Thulaib Hassen from behind a ruck, picking and breaking loose to spin-off and coast to the right of the left upright. Harith Bandara was the man yet again with his 3rd successful conversion giving the Tuskers a two try cushion.
Despite being camped on their own try-line in the face of persistent Chinese pressure in the final minutes, the Tuskers showed grit and determination in torrid conditions to deny the Chinese any further points and hold on for victory.
Full Time: Sri Lanka 26(4T 3C) – 14(2T 2C) China
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Dinuk Amerashinghe
Score breakdown
Sri Lanka
Dinuk Amerasinghe (2T)
Naveen Henakanakanmge (1T)
Thuliab Hassen (1T)
Harith Bandara (3C)China
Yen LU (2T 2C)
Watch – Highlights – Sri Lanka vs China | Asia U20 Sevens
