The Asia U20 Sevens second and final leg kicked off today at the Kings Park grounds in Hong Kong.
The junior Tuskers who finished victorious a fortnight ago in Malaysia came in as favourites to this tournament. They won all three games today with ease scoring six tries each game. Tomorrow Sri Lanka will play the cup semi-finals with South Korea at 11.36 am Sri Lanka time. South Korea were the finalists in the first leg who went for hefty 30 – 00 win over the junior Tuskers.
Captain Kevin Dixon was nursing through an ankle injury which he sustained after the first game against Chinese Taipei, and as a result he missed the rest of the two games. Team Manager Rajiv Perera responded on Dixon’s injury “We want him for the big game tomorrow and hope he will be fit with his ankle, we did not want to risk him playing the Thailand and Malaysia games” Moreover, Buddima Piyarathne is also having an injury just above his right eye but it does not seem so serious at the moment.
Sri Lanka 40 – 05 Malaysia (Game 3)
The last game of day one Sri Lanka out smarted the Malaysians. Omalka Gunarathne has been brilliant in all three games. He used his pace for a 70m run then off loaded to Nishon Perera who went under the post for the first try. Buddima Piyarathne used all his skills and found the supportive runner Reeza Raffaideen for the off load. The Malaysians came on storng in to the Lankan 5m mark but it was turned over as a result Raffaideen made a 80m run to go under the post just on half time.
Halftime : Sri Lanka 21 – 00 Malaysia
In the second half the Lankans were solid again in defense and attack as Shamri Burah made a lovely break and made an under the post try. Vimukthi Rahula came in to action with his dancing footwork to score the try with the courtesy of Rehan Silva’s off load. Chamika Kusal then scored the final try with an interception. Raffaideen converted 4 converisons and Supun Dilshan one.
Sri Lanka 40 – 05 Thailand (Game 2)
Junior Tuskers registered yet another 40 points win over Thailand. It was a very physical game where Taariq Salih received a thumping tackle, but he was fit enough to return and show his strength. But It was Buddima Piyarathne who scored two soild tries with his twinkle toes running circles around Thai players. Raffaideen with a lovely run from the far corner accelerated for his first try of this game. He converted all 3 tries.
Half Time : Sri Lanka 21 – 00 Thailand
In the second half Taariq Salih was sin-binned for a tackling the man without the ball in hand. Thailand managed to score immediately with that penalty in the left flank. Thailand felt more pressure in the defesnse inside their red zone and tried to kick the ball out of jail, but Raffaideen barged in and collected the moving ball diving over the whitewash. Burah missed an easy conversion.
Photos – Sri Lanka Vs Thailand – Asia Rugby U20 7s
Chamika Kusal also been brilliant as he came in the second half and somehow scored an important try. Vimukthi Rahula converted it.
Sri Lanka 36 – 12 Chinese Taipei (Game 1)
The first game of the day was not a perfect start for the Junior Tuskers as Chinese Taipei scored an early try. Sri Lanka took so long to find the rhythm where as Taipei moved the ball left to write to put more pressure on the Tuskers. Omalka Gunarathne’s brilliant fend-offend led Kevin Dixon to score the first try. Taipei scored another try to increase the lead in to the half time.
Half Time : Sri Lanka 07 – 12 Chinese Taipei
Sri Lanka won a free kick after Taipei’s restart went full out. Dixon’s tap to Omalka saw him bulldozing his way to a stunning try. Sri Lanka lifted the momentum with possession and some good ball handling. In the next move Salih offloaded to Silva who in turn pushed it to Omalka in the corner who touched down his second try.
Photos – Sri Lanka Vs Chinese Taipei – Asia Rugby U20 7s
The Sri Lanka under 20 sevens team in their conquest to capture the Asia Rugby Under 20 Sevens title, surpassed their first hurdle this morning against Chinese Taipei scoring a total of six tries to register a successful win. For the Lankans it was Nishon Perera & Omalka Gunarathane who scored two tries each while skipper Kevin Dixon and Chamika Kusal kept a try each. Kevin Dixon converted three tries. Dixon missed 2 conversions but nailed this one.
