Singer-SriLankan International Rugby Sevens: Sri Lanka in Cup/Plate “quarters”

by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Sri Lanka put up her best ever performance in the tournament when they won both their matches by convincing margins to enter the cup/plate quarter finals at the Singer SriLankan International Rugby Sevens worked off at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday. This IRB satellite tournament is sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka (Pvt.) Limited and SriLankan Airlines and co-sponsored by Amaya Hills, Kandy.

Sri Lanka’s best win came against the Arabians Gulf whom they beat by 40 points (5 goals, 1 try) to 7 (1 goal) after leading 35-0 at the short blast.

Almost with the kick off Sri Lankans scored off a blazing 50 metre run by winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe which was goalled by Amjad Buksh. Two minutes later stand-off Fazil Marija helped by a short pass by Sanjeewa Jayasinghe scored under the posts and added the extra points himself. Sri Lanka’s third by was fashioned by skipper Sanjeewa Jayasinghe who once again showed a clean pair of heels under the posts. Amjad Buksh added the extra points for Sri Lanka to lead 21-0 in just 5 minutes of play.

Sri Lanka scored their fourth try through scrum half Amjad Buksh who intercepted a pass to score under the post and added the extra points himself for Sri Lanka to lead 28-0.

Sri Lanka scored their fifth try through Mohamed Sheriff who picked up the loose ball and sprinted away to score near the posts and Amjad Buksh added the extra points for Sri Lanka to build up an unassailable lead of 35-0 at lemons.

Sri Lanka continued to torment Arabian Gulf in the second half too but were not successful in going on a scoring spree again. Midway in this half Saliya Kumara with a burst of speed from midfield scored for Sri Lanka which went unconverted.

Arabian Gulf’s only scoring effort came in the dying stages of the game when Fazil Marija was penalised for dangerous tackle and sent to ‘Sin bin’. In the penalty which was awarded two metres from the goal-line Adrian Kerr scored and added the extra points himself.
Taizo Heirabaysh refereed.

Sri Lanka earlier in the day had no difficulty in defeating Pakistan by 39 points to nil after leading 22-0 at the breather. Sri Lanka collected their points from 2 goals and 5 tries.

Sri Lanka opened scoring through scrum half Amjad Buksh who dummied his way to score under the post and added the extra points himself.

Sri Lanka’s next try came through Fazil Marija who side stepped and scored far left and this try went unconverted. In the 5th minute of play centre Chamara Withanage put Sri Lanka further ahead with 40 metre run and scored far left and this went unconverted.

Just before lemons skipper Sanjeewa Jayasinghe received a pass from Fazil Marija and ran a good 40 metres to score mid right for Sri Lanka to lead 22-0 at half time.

After resumption it was the turn of Amjad Buksh who sliced through the defence to score far right.

Sri Lanka scored their sixth try through Mohomed Sheriff who cut through the opponents defence to touch down far right. Chamara Withanage rounded Sri Lanka’s win with a blazing 40 metre run to score under the post. Fazil Marija added the extra points.

Tobi Lothian refereed.

Sri Lanka will now meet Thailand in the cup/plate quarter finals today at 10.40 a.m.

The other matches played yesterday

Pool A: Korea beat Malaysia 63 points (9 goals) to nil.

Hong Kong beat Malaysia 26 points (3 goals, 1 try) to 7 (1 goal) Korea beat Hong Kong 35-7.

Pool B: Chinese Taipei beat Philippines 49 points (2 goals, 7 tries) to 5 (1 try).

Khazakhastan beat Philippines 46 points (3 goals, 5 tries) to nil. Chinese Taipei beat Khazakhastan 31-0.

Pool C: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan 39 points (2 goals, 5 tries) to nil. Sri Lanka beat Arabian Gulf 40 points (5 goals, 1 try) to 7 (1 goal). Arabian Gulf beat Pakistan 28-5.

Pool D: Thailand beat India 40 points (5 goals, 1 try) to 7 (1 goal). China beat India 48 points (4 goals, 4 tries) to nil.

China beat Thailand by 38 points (4 goals, 2 tries) to (1 goal, 1 try).