The Junior Tuskers, who are competing in the Asia Rugby U19 championship, will play their final game against Chinese Taipei on Saturday at 11.00am SL time.
Sri Lanka managed to beat the hosts Malaysia with an injury time try in their 1st game, as the full time read 27 – 21 in favour of the islanders. However the defending champions Hong Kong ran riot against the Lankans in their next match of the round robin competition, claiming a 61 – 00 victory. After the heavy loss, Sri Lanka face a do or die battle on Saturday as if they lose their last game they will be relegated from the top division of the Asia Rugby U19 championship.
Results thus far
Hong Kong 54 – 08 Chinese Taipei
Sri Lanka 27 – 21 Malaysia
Sri Lanka 00 – 61 Hong Kong
Malaysia – 38 – 31 Chinese Taipei
Games to come
Sri Lanka v Chinese Taipei
Malaysia v Hong Kong
After two bonus point wins, Hong Kong tops the table with 10pts. Malaysia, who picked up a bonus point win against Chinese Taipei and a losing bonus point against Sri Lanka, are in second place with 6pts. Sri Lanka are in 3rd place with 5pts having collected a bonus point win for scoring 4 tries in the first game. Chinese Taipei sit at the bottom of the table with just 2 points for scoring 4 tries against Malaysia where they led until 70th minute of the game but lost in heartbreaking fashion as the hosts hit back with two late tries.
In the first game the Malaysian forwards dominated the Sri Lanka forwards however quite interestingly, in the Malaysia v Chinese Taipei clash, the home team was outdone by the visitors in the forwards play and driving maul. Although Hong Kong look clear favourites to finish on top, it is still anyone’s game as Malaysia have the capability to trouble them in the final game.
Sri Lanka must win or draw the last game if they are to survive without being demoted to Division I. Last year South Korea faced heartbreak as they finished at the bottom of the table and were relegated.
Three of the Lankan players have been admitted to hospital and another two are ill; making it an extremely tough task for the coaching staff and the team to put together a good game on Saturday.
Junior tuskers hit with heavy fever; Isuru Udayakumara flown in as replacement
Watch the Asia Rugby U19 Championship live on Dialog TV channel 1, MY TV Mobile app and www.ThePapare.com from 10.50am onwards SL time on Saturday followed by the final game, Malaysia v Hong Kong from 12.50pm onwards.
