Tuskers secure third slot in Nepal
Sri Lanka men rugby finished overall third in the Asia Rugby Emirates 7s Rugby Tournament, following their commanding 32-0 victory over Uzbekistan, while the women claimed the Bowl title after a thrilling 21-19 win against Uzbekistan, on the second and final day at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday.
Despite the semi-final setback against eventual winners Philippines, Sri Lanka regrouped and delivered an emphatic 32-0 win against Uzbekistan in the third-place playoff. With tries from Shaahid Zumri, Janindu Dilshan, Heshan Jansen and Tarinda Ratwatte, Sri Lanka capped off the tournament on a high note, securing the overall third place.
Sri Lanka overwhelmed Uzbekistan in their sixth and final game of the competition
Philippines won the Cup championship in both men’s and women’s segments, beating Sri Lanka and India respectively.
In the Cup semi-final, Sri Lanka faced the formidable Philippines. The first half was tense, with the Philippines’ Dayton Lobu scoring an early try, followed by Kai Stroem’s conversion, giving them a 7-0 lead at halftime. Sri Lanka fought back in the second half, with Ratwatte and Dilshan both scoring tries, levelling the score at 12-12. However, Philippines’ Harrison Blake and Kai Stroem sealed the game with a final try and conversion, leaving Sri Lanka with a 19-12 loss and pushing them into the playoff for third place.
Sri Lanka advanced to the Cup quarter-finals, where they faced off India. After a tightly contested first half, where neither team could break the deadlock, the score remained 0-0 at halftime. However, in the second half, Sri Lanka unleashed a flurry of tries, with Akash Madusanka, Srinath Sooriyabandara, and Sachith Silva leading the way to a 22-0 victory, securing their place in the semi-finals
The Sri Lanka men displayed outstanding form throughout the tournament, starting with dominant performances in the group stage. On the opening day, they overpowered Saudi Arabia, winning 52-0 in an extraordinary display of attacking rugby. Key players like Dilshan and Zumri led the charge with several tries, while Jansen’s speed and precision added more points, leaving the Saudis stunned and unable to respond.
Sri Lanka’s second group stage match saw them defeat Qatar with a convincing 39-5 victory. Tries from Jansen and Madusanka were supported by conversions from Hirantha Perera and Silva, securing another significant win. Their strong defence allowed only one try from Qatar’s Hamza Saed, maintaining their dominance.
In the third group stage match, Sri Lanka continued their winning streak, defeating Kazakhstan 43-0. Madusanka and Ratwatte scored tries, while a solid team effort kept their opponents scoreless, reflecting Sri Lanka’s strong tactical play and fitness.
Women emerge Bowl champs
In the Bowl final against Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka found themselves in a thrilling encounter where the match was closely contested. But Sri Lanka’s effort paid off with a narrow 21-19 victory, allowing them to lift the Bowl title and end the tournament on a positive note.
The Sri Lanka women also excelled, overcoming a difficult start to claim the Bowl title. Despite an early 29-10 loss to India in the group stage, where Sanjeewani Perera and Sandika Ranasinghe scored Sri Lanka’s only tries, the team fought hard to bounce back.
In their next match, the women’s team narrowly lost to Indonesia, 17-15, which pushed them out of the Cup segment. Despite the disappointment, Sri Lanka refocused and entered the Bowl competition.
| Results | |
| Cup Final: Philippines beat Chinese Taipei 27-14 3rd Place Playoff: Sri Lanka beat Uzbekistan 32-0 Semi-finals: Philippines beat Sri Lanka 19-12, Chinese Taipei beat Uzbekistan 24-0 Quarter-finals: Philippines beat Bahrain 19-14, Uzbekistan beat Kazakhstan 10-5, Sri Lanka beat India 22-0, Chinese Taipei beat Jordan 27-7 Bowl Final: Bahrain beat Kazakhstan 12-5 Semi-finals: Bahrain beat India 15-14, Kazakhstan beat Jordan 22-7 7th Place Playoff: India beat Jordan 14-7 Challenge Final: Qatar beat Pakistan 28-7 Semi-finals: Pakistan beat Afghanistan 21-10, Qatar beat Nepal 33-0 3rd Place Playoff: Afghanistan beat Nepal 22-5 13th Place Playoff: Bangladesh beat Saudi Arabia 19-14 Women’s Cup Final: Philippines beat India 7-5 Semi-finals: Philippines beat Indonesia 19-10, India beat Guam 24-7 3rd Place Playoff: Guam beat Indonesia 22-19 Bowl Final: Sri Lanka beat Uzbekistan 21-19 Semi-finals: Uzbekistan beat Iran 20-0, Sri Lanka beat Nepal 17-15 7th Place Playoff: Nepal beat Iran 20-0 |