Tuskers win Division I title
The victorious Sri Lankan Tuskers with the trophy - Pic by Eshan Fernando
Returning to the international field after a lapse of four years, Sri Lanka lived up to their expectations as a relatively young team completely overpowered Kazakhstan to a seven-try win of 45-7 and lift the Asia Rugby Championship Men’s Division I Championship at the Racecourse ground in Colombo yesterday.
Led by flanker Suhiru Anthony, the Tuskers scored five of their seven tries in the first half, and converted five of them while leading the halftime by a commanding 31-0. The Kazakhs, who were kept at their own bay during most parts of the game, scored from a solitary converted try that came off skipper and No.8 Magamedrasul Magomedov, who was in full stream during the whole of the game, despite his team’s huge loss.
After a wobbly start Sri Lanka settled in to what was visibly their game plan and played as a gelled unit, from the moment fullback Zubair Dore invaded the Kazakh defence to land his team’s first try in the 10th minute. Flanker Adeesha Weeratunga added the host team’s second try in similar fashion seven minutes later, as Sri Lanka led 10-0 with two failed conversions from centre Tarinda Ratwatte, who ended up as the tournament’s top point scorer with two tries and
seven conversions.
Responding to a cannily breached defence of Kazakhstan, flyhalf Thenuka Nanayakkara was well placed to collect a chip kick from scrum half Heshan Jansen from the 22 to brace Sri Lanka’s third try in the 23rd minute. Ratwatte, who was successful in his third kicking attempt, then went on to add his team’s fourth try in the 30th minute, while putting over his own try. With Sri Lanka leading 24-0 by the 35th minute, their fifth try came from winger Dinal Ekanayake, who gave Ratwatte an easy distance and angle to put over his third conversion in five attempts as the home team expanded the lead to 31-0.
Scrumhalf Jansen wasted very little time as he breached the Kazakh defence and covered a good distance to brace a try soon after the second half began. With Thenuka Nanayakkara’s conversion, Sri Lanka expanded the lead to 38-0, but the Kazakhs were somewhat aggressive soon afterwards after the hosting side made a few quick substitutions.
Eventually they were rewarded with an opportunity to breach the Tuskers’ defence for the first time in the 56th minute as skipper Magamedrasul Magomedov gave his team the consolation of a try in the 56th minute. With the conversion from fullback Abdrakhman Nazhibayer, they were able to gain confidence to become more aggressive and positive, but Sri Lanka were still clinical in their defence. The game ended after the victors scored their seventh try through winger Sachith Silva, who raced down from the right flank to score under the post, giving replacement fullback Hirusha Nethmina an easy conversion.
Sanath Martis’ men recorded a similar win against India on Tuesday by 45-10, while Kazakhstan were more clinical in their close 33-31 win against Qatar earlier on the same day. With the two wins Sri Lanka will return to the top tier of the Asian Rugby Men’s Championship next season.