Gritty Sri Lanka clinches Asian Rugby Under-20 Sevens Series in Hong Kong
A huge triumph for Sri Lanka Rugby
Despite losing the Cup final to Hong Kong 10-36 in the second leg, the gritty Sri Lanka Youth Sevens team, clinched the Asian Rugby Under-20 Series 2016, with overall championship points of 26, at Kings Park in Kowloon, Hong Kong yesterday.
Sri Lanka scored from two unconverted tries which came from the backs of Omalka Guneratne and Shamri Burah, while the hosts were seemingly powerful in their final outing, which was not enough to prevent the young Tuskers becoming overall champions.
“Hong Kong played much better and they were an improved side from the last outing in Malaysia. But I’m really happy and overjoyed by our achievement, which is historical in the annals of Sri Lanka Rugby. It’s a great moment for Sri Lanka and I’m very proud of my boys,” stated an overjoyed Sri Lanka coach Sudath Sampath, soon after his team’s triumph.
Taking off from the point they left in Malaysia a fortnight ago, where the Sri Lankans emerged winners of the first leg, the overall winners produced some of the scintillating performances in the two-day competition which kicked off on Friday. They reached the Cup semi-finals beating Chinese Taipei by 36-12, Thailand by 40-5 and Malaysia by 40-5 in the group matches finishing as Pool ‘A’ leaders.
The young Tuskers carried forward their form to beat South Korea, who they met in the final in Malaysia 19-12, to fix up the final showdown against an improved Hong Kong side.
Hong Kong topped Pool ‘B’ after beating Singapore 36-5, the UAE 40-5 and South Korea by 33-0 to meet Malaysia in the semi-final. The hosts defeated a resurgent Malaysian outfit 26-14 to meet eventual overall winners Sri Lanka.
In the First Leg of the Asian Rugby Under-20 Series worked out in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Sri Lanka defeated the Philippines 22-5, Thailand 31-5, the UAE 45-5, and recorded their only loss to Japan after a close fight by 14-19. But in the finals Sri Lankan lads smashed Koreans 38-0.
Ironically the Koreans defeated Japan 24-19 in the semi-finals. This is the first instance any Sri Lanka team has won an international Sevens Rugby Series in its history of 137 years.
The Sri Lanka Sevens squad led by Kevin Dixon included Omalka Gunarathne, Nishon Perera, Reza Rafaideen, Vimukthi Rahula, Shamri Burah, Lasindu Ishan, Tariq Salih, Rehan Silva, Buddhima Priyarathana, Chamika Kusal and Supun Dilshan.
The officials on board were Sudath Sampath as Head Coach, Rajiv Perera as Manager and Imthi Marikkar as High Performance Director.