Three tries inside the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half ensured Hong Kong out-class Sri Lanka junior Tuskers by 32-07 points in their 2014 JWRT Asian qualifying match worked out at the Race Course International Rugby Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Sri Lankans fielded the same starting XV after their narrow defeat against South Korea on Sunday while the favorites, Hong Kong made only one change to the lineup. Junior Tuskers skipper Tarinda Ratwatte kicked started the game sharp at 4.30pm on a breezy evening at the heart of Ceylon rugby.
Handling errors by both teams prevented free-flowing rugby during the initial stages of the match. Hong Kong commenced scoring in the 9th minute of the match when their winger Eric Kwok touched down right of the posts after he ran a superb angle to end a brilliant attacking phase by the visitors. Captain Hugo Stiles converted easily to add the extra points.
(Sri Lanka 00 – Hong Kong 07)
Sri Lanka got a perfect opportunity to hit back strongly as they received a 28-meter penalty kick after the Hong Kong players were penalized for off-side play but the Lankan Captain Ratwatte failed to bisect the posts as scores remained the same. Sri Lankan lineouts were in disarray as the local hooker’s throwing was not up to the standards early on which gave away crucial possession and territory for the hosts.
As the clock ticked over 20 minutes, Sri Lanka was awarded with a free kick by the referee after the Hong Kong forwards made a scrum infringement. Lankan skipper Ratwatte opted to kick high into the Hong Kong territory and the Tuskers put pressure on the defense, which made the visiting full back to drop the ball and the dashing center-three quarter Kevin Dixon collected the loose ball and sprinted to score under the posts. Ratwatte made short work of the conversion as the scores were leveled. (Sri Lanka 07 – Hong Kong 07)
After 28 minutes of rugby, Hong Kong regained their lead through a penalty kick by their Captain Hugo Stiles who kicked a simple 22-meter penalty after the Tuskers were penalized for being offside in defense. (Sri Lanka 07 – Hong Kong 10)
Sri Lanka once again was gifted with the chance to level the scores just before the half-time whistle as Hong Kong were infringed for not releasing the player on the deck but Sri Lankan skipper Ratwatte’s place-kicking was unsuccessful once more to the dismay of many hearty supporters as referee blew the half-time whistle to end a stop-start first half.
Half Time: Sri Lanka 07 – Hong Kong 10
After the orange’s break, Hong Kong play-maker and skipper Hugo Stiles recommenced the match. Biggest turnaround of the match occurred in the 2nd minute of the second-half was when the Sri Lanka’s best player and number 8 Omalka Gunaratne was sin-binned for a shoulder charge.
Hong Kong capitalized on the opportunity perfectly as their scrum-half Matt Worley sliced through the Lankan defense as butter to touch down under the posts. Hugo Stiles added the extra points. (Sri Lanka 07 – Hong Kong 17)
Sri Lanka defense was caught napping once again when the Hong Kong inside-center Jordon Cooper broke through from their own territory and off-loaded to Matt Worley who dashed away to score yet another try with only 6 minutes past in the 2nd half. Hugo Stiles continued his good game by converting the try. (Sri Lanka 07 – Hong Kong 24)
Sri Lankan junior Tuskers continued to make unforced errors which the visitors pounced on to convert them into points as Hong Kong received a penalty after a Lankan player was penalized for playing the ball in the ground in the 8th minute of the 2nd half. Hugo Stiles kicked excellently as he extended the lead with another 3 points. (Sri Lanka 07 – Hong Kong 27)
Hong Kong dominated the breakdowns as they over-powered the hosts to turn around many rucks to their favor while the Lankans panicked under pressure including their skipper Tarinda Ratwatte who had a forgettable game with his place-kicking and his ball-handling skills in open play.
Hong Kong punished the 14-man Lankan outfit before Omalka entered the field when Matt Worley side-stepped and dummied the Lankan defense to score near the corner flag to complete his hat-trick of tries and sealed the game for the superior Hong Kong team. Hugo Stiles failed to add the extra points. (Sri Lanka 07 – Hong Kong 32)
With Omalka’s return, Sri Lanka injected fresh blood from the bench and tried to change the complexion of the game but the Hong Kong junior players held on superbly to a late surge by the host nation and played to their strengths while the Lankans showed lack of experience as they were unable to use the their speedy back line often to out-run the opposition.
Hong Kong pro-forward Sjors Laurisen was yellow-carded for tackling replacement second-row forward Akila Perera in the air but the junior Tuskers failed to use the one-man advantage as Hong Kong stabilized their place in the top of the rankings as referee blew the long-final whistle.
Sri Lanka will have to rejuvenate themselves and play their best game against Chinese Taipei on Saturday afternoon if they are to keep their place in the top division. Key players such as Omalka, Sudam Parinda, Tarinda and Kevin Dixon will have to combine themselves accordingly to end the tournament on a winning note.
Full Time: Sri Lanka 07 – Hong Kong 32
ThePapare Man of the Match – Matt Worley (Hong Kong scrum-half)
Referee – Maurice Buttler
