Rugby: Sri Lanka win Asian 7s Series third place

Despite being hampered by injuries to three players in Adeesha Weeratunga (head), Gayan Weeraratne (hamstring) and Kavindu Perera (shoulder) during the game itself, a compact Sri Lanka crushed Philippines by 40 points (six tries, five conversions) to 12 (2tries, 1 conversion) here in Happy Valley, Hong Kong on Saturday (15) to claim third place in the first leg of the Asian Sevens Series 2018. 

Japan defeated Hong Kong 12-0 in the Cup final. 

Naveen Henakankanamage touched down within the first two minutes of play to give Sri Lanka the perfect start.

Thereafter Sudam Sooriyarachchi crossed the line. 

Srinath Sooriyabandara obliged with both conversions. 

Philippines managed to reduce the lead through a converted Donald Coleman try. 

Sri Lanka responded in no time when swift ball handling saw Dinuk Amarasinghe amble over the try line for Sudam Sooriyarachchi to add the extra points. 

Sri Lanka’s 21-07 half time lead was reduced through an unconverted Philippine try. 

Thereafter Danush Dayan showed great presence of mind to sell a dummy and plant a try. 

As if not to be outdone, Buddhima Piyaratne followed suit blazing through the opponent’s defence. 

Kevin Dixon made no mistake with the ensuing conversions. 

The game already sealed, skipper Srinath Sooriyabandara scored another, Sri Lanka’s sixth try. 

Earlier on, using the physical advantage to the maximum, Hong Kong once again turned out to be the nemesis of Sri Lanka, as the host nation recorded a comfortable 31 points (5tries, 3conversions) to nil win in the second Cup Championship semi-final. 

Having led 14-0 at the breather, the Asian Games gold medalists had little trouble in brushing aside the Sri Lankan challenge. 

Sri Lanka booked its berth in the Cup Championship semi-finals with an impressive 33 points (5 tries, 4 conversions) to 12 (2 tries, 1 conversion) win over Chinese Taipei in the morning. 

A new-look starting lineup featured Adeesha Weeratunga, Reeza Raffaideen and Kevin Dixon. 

A brace by young Dinuk Amarasinghe midway into the initial half virtually took the game away from Taipei. 

It was Piyaratne who touched down first on a humid morning as Sri Lanka dominated the first seven minutes of play collecting 21 points whilst conceding none. 

After the turnaround a spirited Chinese Taipei planted back to back tries, one of which was converted, only to see Sri Lanka regain the momentum with another couple of tries. 

Danush Dayan and Naveen Henakankanamage put the finishing touches to moves initiated by a jinxing Kevin Dixon. 

Sudam Sooriyarachchi obliged with one conversion whilst Dixon was on target with three.

Results:

Japan beat China 33-14; Sri Lanka beat Chinese Taipei 33-12; Hong Kong beat Philippines 42-07; Malaysia beat South Korea 26-19. 

Plate semi-finals: China beat Malaysia 28-24; Chinese Taipei beat South Korea 40-05. 

Cup semi-finals: Japan beat Philippines36-05; Hong Kong beat Sri Lanka 31-00; 

7th /8th playoff: South Korea beat Malaysia 28-14. 

Plate final: China beat Chinese Taipei 15-07. 

3rd /4th playoff: Sri Lanka beat Philippines 40-12 

Cup final: Japan beat Hong Kong 12-00.