Lackluster win for Tuskers over Singapore

Sri Lanka

Points : Dhanushka Ranjan 1T, Sudarshana Muthuthantri 1T, Sandun Herath 1T, Jason Dissanayake 1T, Rizah Mubarak (2C, 3P)

Singapore

Points : Bin Jailani 1T, William McFeely 1T, Richard Patterson (2C, 1P)

The new look team with nine debutants in the squad played with loads of courage, but so many unforced errors by the senior men created panic in the first half. The attacking lineouts, scrums, ball handling and decision making was not of acceptable standards especially when playing against the minnows. The referee Tim Baker was a no stranger, as he was the man in charge of the Dialog Clifford cup finals.

Rizah Mubarak kicked off proceedings with sending the ball into deep 22m to gain territorial advantage. Chanaka Chandimal’s kick was chased by Dhanushka Ranjan eventually he knocked it on to score early on. Sri Lanka’s pack looked weightier than the opposition but was tested a lot as Singapore won the first penalty inside their red zone after Tuskers collapsed the scrum.

Full back Mubarak nailed a 42m penalty in the 3^rd minute where Singapore player went off balance in the ruck. It did not take too long for the opposition to break through the Tuskers defense as they earned a penalty which levelled the score through Richard Patterson’s kick. (SL 03 – 03 SIN)

Sri Lankans looked puzzled not knowing what to do with the ball in hand, somehow in to the 10^th minute Kanchana Ramanayaka made a stunning 30m run by courtesy of Chandimal’s long pass. Ramanayke then found a switch pass and the ball was sent to the dangerous center Dhanushka Ranjan who scored in the left flank. Mubarak missed the conversion. (SL 08 – 03 SIN)

Since then Singapore played with much possession giving the Lankan defense some hard work. In the 15^th minute, winger Kavindu Perera had a 2 v 1 situation with his CR&FC mate Ramanayake on his left. But made a school boy error with his pass, he seemed to take long to settle as he made some fine yards in the second half.

Before the one minute water break Singapore took the lead with Pattison putting a chip where Mubarak could not kick the moving ball in to touch. The chaser Bin Jailani said thank you very much and pocked an easy try. Singapore fly half Pattison converted the extras. (SL 08 – 10 SIN)

After the break, Kishore Jehan and Jason Melder showed some great work to hold the opposite ball carrier. But the very next minute from a line out drive, the Tuskers showed poor technique in the rolling maul which resulted as an accidental off-side and loss of possession.

In the 25^th minute brought on the funniest chip kick by Ramanayake which was well won by himself and off loaded to Kavindu Perera, who made a few meters and passed to the support player Sudarshana Muthuthanthri who touched the whitewash. Mubarak added the extras. (SL 15 – 10 SIN)

After a few clumsy passages of play by both teams, scrum half Roshan Weerarathne made a stunning turnover in the breakdown. But that did not reflect positive for the Tuskers as they could not gain territory.

Singapore won a kickable penalty in the 37^th minute, but they decided to find the touch which was a brave move. In the next minute it proved fruitful as their big No8 William McFeely scored after three phases from that lineout drive. Seconds before the half time Ranjan had a chance but his offload was not accurate to Ramanayake.

Half time (SL 15 – 17 SIN)

The heavens opened in the second half and Coach Johan Taylor made immediate changes in the pack. Last year’s U20 captain Omalka Gunarathne replaced Buwenaka Udangamuwa in the #08, Jason Melder who started at tight head gave his place to Ganuka Dissanayake and in 47^th minute Dushmantha Priyadarshana came in for Kishore Jehan.

Gunarathne with his first touch made a storming run that gave a sudden momentum for the Tuskers. In the 50^th minute great handling skills between Chandimal and Ramanayake and fine finishing by the dashing winger Sandun Herath in the corner took the lead past Singapore. Mubarak’s kick hits the post but missed the 2 points. (SL 20 – 17 SIN)

Singapore had some momentum with the possession and with playing inside the Lankan half but it was their mistakes that halted them from scoring more than the Lankan defense. Mubarak yet again nailed a 40m penalty in the 54^th minute after Singapore infringement in the breakdown.

Ranjan missed his second scoring opportunity when Ramanayake made a lovely chip over the defensive line. The Tuskers won another penalty in the 60^th minute which created confusion whether to take a tap and run or to get the points with an easy 8m distance. Referee Baker had to pursue the captain Muthuthantri to make a decision and Mubarak added another three points. (SL 26 – 17 SIN)

CR&FC’s loose forward Jason Dissanayake was outstanding as he won a few defending lineouts. He also made a stunning try in the 67^th minute with a scintillating 40m dash. Mubarak converted from the sidelines to be in the comfort zone from defeat. Although maintaining good discipline debutant hooker Prasath Madusankha was sin-binned in the 78^th minute for playing off-side, which was the only yellow card of the game.

ThePapare.com Man of the Match : Jason Dissanayake

It was Kanchana Ramanayake who created scoring opportunities in the first half although he was out in the 60^th minute with an hamstring injury, but Jason played a major role in the lineouts, breakthrough and some fine tackles.

Today’s performance was certainly not so convincing, and although the Tuskers are missing few big names due to injuries, they have a lot of home work during the next 48hours before they take on the hosts Malaysia on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile Philippines beat the Malaysia 15 – 10 in the second game at the same venue.