Triple disaster for Sri Lanka in Al Ain
Sri Lanka’s Tharinda Ratwatte tries to ward off a Chinese defender – Picture courtesy Asia Rugby
A glimpse of hope for Sri Lanka culminated with an inevitable 33-17 defeat at the hands of a superior Hong Kong side under lights in the UAE leg of the Asian 7s Series at the Al Ambler RFC grounds in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates last evening. Sri Lanka having good ball control sprung into a 12-nil lead through a brace by Dharshana Dabare, one of which was converted by Akash Madushanka.
Hong Kong reduced the lead to 12-7 at half time. The experienced Hong Kong took firm control of the game with four second half tries and Sri Lanka responded with a solitary intercepted try by Mithun Hapugoda by the left corner flag.
Earlier,
Sri Lanka suffered a shock 19-26 defeat at the hands of less fancied Malaysia in their second outing yesterday and were condemned to playoffs for lower standings in today’s games.
A couple of tries during each half by Malaysia was too much for an out of sorts looking Sri Lankan side that responded with tries from Chathura Seneviratne, Hapugoda and Srinath Sooriyabandara.
Initially a brace by Malaysia unsettled the Lankans. However on the brink of half time, a move initiated from centre of the field where ball changed hands of all seven players saw Chathura Seneviratne going over for a try that was converted by himself.
The second half brought about a similar performance with Malaysia scoring twice early, only to see a fight back by Sri Lanka a tad too late. In this half Hapugoda powered his way for a try converted by himself and Sooriyabandara touched down on the brink of full time. A disoriented Sri Lanka men’s team were outpaced and outmuscled by a well drilled China outfit 31-14 in the opening game.
Sri Lanka’s vulnerability in securing possession at kickoff and restarts was brutally exposed once again with China racing to a 17-0 lead before Chathura Seneviratne touched down from open play for Sooriyabandara to add the extra points. The half time score read 17-7 in favour of the Chinese.
After the turnaround China scored twice more simply outpacing the Sri Lankan defence and the converted tries essentially sealed the win before a consolation solo try by Dabare and the ensuing Sudharaka Dikkumbura conversion brought respectability to the final score line.
Today Sri Lanka will take on South Korea at 10.25a.m. in the second Plate semi-final.
| Results | |
| China beat Sri Lanka 31-14, Hong Kong beat Malaysia 38-7, Philippines drew with UAE 14-14, Japan beat South Korea 27-26, Malaysia beat Sri Lanka 26-19, Hong Kong beat China 28-12, Japan beat Philippines 28-12, UAE beat South Korea 21-15, China beat Malaysia 21-14, Hong Kong beat Sri Lanka 33-17, UAE beat Japan 28-26, South Korea beat Philippines 14-10.
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