The junior ruggerites of Japan emulated their seniors to become undisputed Asian rugby junior champions when they coasted to a comfortable 48 points to 3 win over Hong Kong in the final of the Asian Rugby Junior Championship played at the Thai Japanese Sports Stadium in Din Daeng Bangkok Thailand yesterday. The Japanese were in a class of their own having prior to the final encounter posted massive wins over Singapore whom they outclassed 114-3 and then got the better of Sri Lanka 92-3 in the quarter and semi final encounters respectively.
The two mammoth wins showed that the writing on the wall was there for Hong Kong who were the defending champions. They were completely outclassed by the superior Japanese out who had things their own way. The expectations of another massive win was in the cards but the champions did not put in much effort as in the previous two games. Japan having taken an early 22-3 at lemons secured their points through four goals as against to the solitary penalty booted over by Hong Kong.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka youth rugby team under tremendous pressure brushed aside the poor refereeing by the Singaporean referee to overcome odds and record a 29 points to 23 win over host Thailand in the play off for the third and fourth slot encounter which was played prior to the final encounter.
Sri Lanka having led 12-8 at the breather accumulated their points through two goals and three tries to a goal, two tries and two penalties by Thailand. In the process Sri Lanka who was fourth in the rankings when the tournament started on August 22 went one step ahead to secure the third slot. The Sri Lankan youth did not wilt under poor refereeing playing better rugby than the home team.
The encounter began with the Thais putting up the score through a penalty booted over in the fifth minute. But the Sri Lankans took the lead six minutes through a try by wing three quarter Prabath Jayalath who receiving a pass from centre Anuruddha Wilwara darted to score down the left corner flag. But reliable kicker full back Rajitha Sansoni's kick at goal went astray.
With Sri Lanka leading 5-3 it took another 18 minutes for the next scoring to be done which was by Thailand for an unconverted try. Nine minutes late Sri Lanka took back the lead with flanker Mihiran Muthuthanthri going over for an under the post try with Rajitha Sansoni this time making no mistake with the conversion.
In the dying moments of this half the Sri Lankans had an opportunity of increasing the lead but Sansoni surprisingly failed to boot over and easy penalty offered right in front of the post with which the short whistle was blown.
The resumption saw Thailand decreasing the lead through a penalty booted over in the third minute. With a ding dong battle taking place the Sri Lankans succeeded in post two tries within a space of two minutes through fly half Tharindu Chanaka in the 15th minute who dragged many Thai defenders for an unconverted try. Two minutes later centre Anuruddha Wilwara sent some of the Sri Lankan supporters who had come to witness the game wild for another unconverted try.
The home team replied with a try three minutes later. At the halfway stage of the game flanker Shehan Pathirana who have had a successful tour went for Sri Lanka’s fifth and last try with Sansoni making no mistake with the conversion to give Sri Lanka a healthy 29-16 lead. From here on the game got onto the rough side with the Thai players getting the support from the referee. Later a Thai try which was converted saw them decrease the lead to 29-23 which stood at the completion giving Sri Lanka a well deserved victory despite all odds. |
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