The Tuskers failed to secure a victory as a strong Malagasy team put up a splendid performance to win 17-12 in a nail-biting encounter at the newly ordained Racecourse Ground.
Rizah Mubarak kicked off the first ever match in the Dialog Serendib International Cup where the Tuskers took on a strong Madagascar side led by fly-half Jose Rakoto. Madagascar who had possession in the opening minutes of the game looked a team that was bestowed with quite a bit of speed and agility as they raced through the right flank marauding into the Lankan twenty-two where Niroshan Fernando nearly messed it up with a knock on in his own half.
However, it was the fullback Rizah who opened the scoring with a ‘all in a days work’ penalty after some good work by the forwards which saw Sri Lanka take the lead in the game. Fernando who started as fly-half seemed to be very nervy as his passing was very inaccurate that eventually worked to Sri Lanka’s disadvantage.
Madagascarzthen had an opportunity in the 11th minute to equalize but Jose Rakoto who had forgotten his kicking boots today failed to find the middle of the two uprights. The visitors slowly grew more confident and nearly scored the opening try through Mamindrasena Solomampionona who scuffed the ball on the try line much to the dismay of his teammates.
Allain Rakotonirina then managed to squeeze through after some good work by Nirin Jacky the half back who found space on the blind side to setup the try. Jose failed to make the conversion as the scores read 03-05 in favour of the visitors.
Niroshan’s dip in form called for the substztution of Fazil Marija in the team as fly half which was nearly fruitful when a calculated cross kick by Marija almost reached his target on the left flank who failed to collect cleanly.
Mubarak then slotted another penalty to give the Lankans the lead once again when the Malagasy team were penalized for having their hands in the ruck. The Tuskers were much in debt to Rizah as he slotted in another penalty going into half time, with a brilliant kick from the 50m mark to make its 09-05 in favour of Sri Lanka.
Bilal Hassen who arguably was the best player for Sri Lanka this evening had a few daunting runs in the second half but failed to find the finishing touch. Rakoto failed to convert another penalty as the second half started very slowly.
However, Madagascar definitely looked the stronger side as they came very close to scoring in many occasions. Bernard Razafindrananaivo then put the Malagasy team ahead once again with another good try from the right flank. Madagascar after some consistent pressure in the Lankan half won a good scrum that put the Tuskers behind. Rakoto missed the kick once again as the scores read 10-09 in favour of the visitors.
Bad defense by the Sri Lankans nearly saw Christian Jean Felix nearly making it through for the Malagasy team once again. Rizah had another opportunity to put the Lankans ahead but he scuffed the penalty wide succumbing to pressure on that occasion.
Fazil Marija then had a very aggressive run, but eventually ran out of space and support, but consistent pressure by the home team pushed the Malagasy team to concede another penalty with minutes to go as Rizah put the Tuskers ahead once again.
Most spectators at the Racecourse might have thought it was the winning penalty, but the Malagasy team had some last minute magic within their ranks as Ramaromiantso went on to scream through under the post to win it for Madagascar. Jose Rakoto made his final kick of the game count as well as the Tuskers were defeated 17-12 in an enthralling encounter at the Racecourse Grounds.
