Sri Lanka thrashes Chinese Taipei to secure second spot
The Sri Lanka Under 20 ruggerites upset the apple cart with a resounding 31 points ( 4 Goals, 1 Penalty) to 6 (2 Penalties) win over Chinese Taipei to secure second spot in the Singer ARFU JWRT Asian Qualifier 2014 which concluded yesterday at the Race Course Rugby Grounds at Reid Avenue.
Action at the Sri Lanka Vs Chinese Taipei U-20 Singer ARFU JWRT Asian Qualifier. Pix by M.D.Nissanka
Hong Kong smashed South Korea by 58 points to 7 in the second game played yesterday to remain unbeaten and emerge as the eventual winners. By virtue of Sri Lanka’s win yesterday and South Korea’s loss, the second, third and fourth placings changed around completely with all three sides remaining on six points with one win apiece. However Sri Lanka who managed to secure two bonus points for scoring four tries in each of their games against South Korea and Chinese Taipei secured the runners-up berth. Chinese Taipei came in third for beating South Korea in their encounter which eventually saw the South Koreans being relegated. This is indeed a remarkable result for Sri Lanka as after the 12 long years they have managed to remain in this division in consecutive years without being relegated to the lower division.
The Sri Lankan juniors who lost narrowly to South Korea (31/28) and also to the ultimate winners Hong Kong (32/7) earlier in the tournament came out all guns blazing and displayed a true brand of rugby playing both defensively and in attack as one cohesive unit.
It was the Chinese Taipei side who drew first blood when their full back Po Wei Huang fired over two easy penalties, the first as early as the 5th minute and his second in the 11th minute to hold onto a 6 nil lead. This was just after Lankan Skipper Tarinda Ratwatte shocked those present at the grounds when he fluffed the simplest of penalties in the second minute of play.
Ratwatte however made amends in the 17th minute of play when he put the finishing touches to a brilliant try which he himself converted that was originally initiated by full back Kevin Dixon. Dixon broke away from the half way mark and strode into his opponents 22 to off load a pass to winger Bhanuka Gamage who in turn drew his defense and passed it to Ratwatte to score by the upright to give the Lankans the lead 7/6 which they thereafter, never relinquished.
On the stroke of half time number 8 Omalka Gunaratne scored off a five yard scrum and Ratwatte added the extra points for Sri Lanka to lead 14/6 at the breather.
The second half saw the Lankan lads camp entirely in the Chinese Taipei den. During this period Sri Lanka scored two further tries both off five yard scrummages, the first in the 52nd minute by prop replacement Ganuka Dissanayake and again in the 62 minute when skipper Ratwatte touched down off a quick pass by scrum half replacement Sudam Sooriyaarachchi for his second try of the game. In the dying stages of the game Sri Lanka were presented with the simplest of penalties almost in front of the posts. Ratwatte who had a brilliant game up until then, gleefully accepted the kick at goal and made no mistake this time with his kick to give his side a well
deserved win.