Sri Lanka Tuskers beat Kazakhstan 38 points to 17 and China 33 – 22 in the second leg of Asian 7’s series in Malaysia. Sri Lanka currently holds 4th place with 9 points whilst Hong Kong leads the series with 12 points followed by Korea with 11 and Japan with 10 points.
Srinath Sooriyabandara (Soori) kicked off and was well collected by the Kazakhs where they came storming in to the try line, however, Tuskers won a free kick as a result Soori was taken a quick tap and kicked deep as he saw there is no sweeper defender. Debutant Fijian Waqavulagi Emori ran a 70m try where no Kazakh defenders bother about catching him. Good counter rucking by Kazakhs went in favor of the Tuskers as referee gave a penalty. Emori once again with a quick tap and just passed few meters away to the try line to Soori where he went under the post. The third try came from the middle of the pitch as Soori was dancing and darted the defender and scored his second try. Just before the half time skillful Evan Hodzky scored the first try for Kazakhstan. HT(21 – 07)
Kazakhs retained the ball with the restart showing aggression in the attack, Sarakodzy went in the far right corner to score the second try. Sri Lanka received the ball correctly this time from the restart and was sent to the line, Fazil Marija as a second receiver with a long break and powered in to his first try. Much improved Kazakhstan was threatening in Lankan territory Anurudda Wilwara’s try saving tackle on Sarakodzy was outstanding but his off load was stolen by Nigel Ratwatte where he passed to Danushka Ranjan and he went under the post with a 85m try, surprisingly Ranjan missed the juicy conversion.
Quick passing skills by the Kazakhs was tested on the Lankan defenders, which was at the end turned out to be a deserved try for the Kazakhstan to increase the scoreboard. However, that did not worry the Tuskers as Yoshitha Rajapaksa made a diving pass to Soori who sends it to Ranjan taking the defender and gives it to Anurudda Wilwara to score the final try. FT (38 – 17)
Sri Lanka vs China
Another scary start for the Tuskers as China went to score two tries in the first 2 minutes. China did the same in the last outing in Hong Kong where Sri Lanka bounce back for a 17 – 5 victory. Yet again second half flourish gave Tuskers a 33 – 22 win.
After the two early tries captain Marija with his thinking cap on sent the ball to Emori who sprint in the corner and off loaded to Marija which was well supported by him to score the first try for the Tuskers (07 – 12). Restart was well collected by Ma Chong the Chinese wing went pass Sudarshana Muthuthantri and Nigel Ratwatte in to the try. Tuskers on the back foot trying to resurge; Gayan weerarathne collected the Chinese knock on and gained some good yards, then the support came once again ball was sent out wider through quick passes as Emory collected and made no mistake to score the second try. (14 – 17)
Yet again it was that Fiji impact which paid off for the Tuskers when Emori made a solo try to get the lead in before the half time. Soori made a difficult conversion to count. HT (21 – 17) in the second half Ratwatte showing some great skills but Emori’s off load was a bit too quick as he could not hold on to it. Nevertheless, good defence by Muthuthantri and Marija turned over the ball position as a result Ratwatte whizz through a quick tap in to the opposite 22m but the tackler was penalized to sin bin. Sri Lanka with a man advantage scored the try through Shehan Pathirana in the right corner.
China came vigorously in to Sri Lankan half and Ma Chong went on to score his second try which made the game more excited as the score moved on to 26 – 22 just four points deficit. During the dying minute Chinese had a chance but replacement Wilwara made a solid tackle to put Ma Chong in the sideline. With that turn over Sensational Sooriarachi did not have much choice but to run for the try which sealed the victory for the Tuskers. (FT 33 – 22)
Sri Lanka will now play with Malaysia in the first cup quarter final tomorrow at 9.30 a.m. Sri Lankan time. Whilst Hong Kong takes on Singapore, Korea against China and Japan will play Philippines in the second – fourth cup quarter finals respectively.
