Hong Kong defeated Sri Lanka Tuskers yet again by 31 points to 05 at the world series qualifiers in Hong Kong. Earlier in day Sri Lanka lost to Chile 38 – 00 in their first game.
Going in to this game, it was a rematch between Sri Lanka’s Achilles heel Hong Kong where the Tuskers have struggled through time to beat this particular adversary. Sri Lanka lost to Hong Kong 31 – 00 at the Borneo 7s last month as well.
However, in this match coach Peter Wood’s men brought on a different tactic where Sri Lanka’s attack went right to left and then back to the pod but this brought them possession but not territory. This ploy created space in the corner as Hong Kong defense rushed-in but the Tuskers could not exploit it as they did not possess the power and pace required.
Veteran Rowan Varty scored the first try in the third minute and Benjamin Rimene scored back to back tries for Hong Kong before half time.
In the second half, Hong Kong had more possession and Max Woodward scored two tries. Sri Lanka’s defense went patchy and coordination and communication was clearly lacking.
Kandy SC winger Anurudda Wilwara who came off the bench in the twelfth minute and made one of his trade-mark runs beating his opposite number in a scintilatting 80m dash for a consolation try in the final minute of the game. Fresh from a long-lay off due to injury, Wilwara burst through for what was Sri Lanka’s only try in two games which served to shave-off a bit of embarrassment for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka will play Namibia in their last group game tomorrow at 7.58 am SL time.
Chile beat Namibia 26 – 14 in the group game and placed top of the Pool F
The Sri Lanka sevens team played their first game of the World Series qualifiers against a well drilled Chilean team in Hong Kong a short while ago.
It was a disappointing start for the Tuskers as they failed to come away with any points against the much larger South American side. Chile however managed to rack up 38 points after having led 12-00 at half time.
The Tuskers struggled get out of their own half through the entire game except for the one occasion that Fazil Marija broke up the middle. Unfortunately for the Lankans he was isolated and Chile having turn the ball over ran in a 60 meter try to open the scoring.
Sri Lanka showed glimmers of hope all through the game as they attempted to get the ball out wide to their speedster Danushka Ranjan. Regrettably for the Tuskers the Chileans were able to out pace him on the flanks which resulted in the skipper being isolated and repeatedly losing possession.
Sri Lanka also struggled around the breakdown and tackle area. They were severely outmatched for strength and power and Chile exploited the space time and again in the second half. Defensively the Tuskers were forced to over commit players which meant Chilean playmakers had loads of space to work in.
Meanwhile Hong Kong, who are in the same pool, beat Namibia 22– 07.
