Sri Lanka in smashing 26-10 win over China

By Ranjeeva Seneviratne

Rugby: Sri Lanka after being contained to a 7-3 lead at the breather came back storming in the second half to score a smashing 26 points (3 goals, 1 try) to 10 (1 goal, one penalty) win over China in the curtain-raiser of the Singer Rugby Asiad at Longden Place yesterday.

A heavy downpour before the match and a continuous drizzle throughout the game made it difficult for the three quarters of both teams to handle the wet ball. The Lankans resorted to kick ahead tactics in the first half which did not pay dividends but worked the threes on several occasions in the second session and were rewarded with three fine tries.

Radhika Hettiarachchi who had a grand game joined the line to form the overlap several times while winger Lakala Perera excelled with his powerful runs down the flank and capped a fine performance with two splendid tries.

The Sri Lankan forwards outplayed their counterparts in the loose. No.8 Dushanth Lewke was the most impressive and was a source of inspiration to his team-mates with his fiery loose play and was ably supported by Bisthamin, Kerthelis, Bandara, Senthil Kumar and Skipper Galgamuwa. They also had a major share of possession with Senthil Kumar getting the better of his vis-a-vis Li Ting Jiang in the set scrums while in the line outs the Lankan quartat of Bandara, Sumadha Jayasinghe, Bisthamin and Karthelis towered above the rest.

After Senthil Kumar missed two penalties early in the first half the Sri Lankans surged into the lead in the 20th minute when Radhika Hettiarachchi kicked ahead and Fazil Marija who chased it collected the ball and sent out a pass to Radhika Hettiarachchi who slipped out a pass to winger Lakala Perera who burst through to touch down mid right. Senthil Kumar added the extra points. In the 35th minute China reduced the deficit when full back Zhang Zhi Quiang fired across a 30 metre penalty to make it 7-3 at lemons.

In the 3rd minute after resumption Sri Lanka full back Radhika Hettiarachchi booted a loose ball chased it and fell on it in the in-goal area. Senthil Kumar made a splendid conversion 14-3.

In the 25th minute of the second half came the best try of the match. Sri Lanka won a scrum in their 25 and fly half Fazil Marija made a break and slung out a pass to centre Lasintha de Costa who sliced through the Chinese defence and slipped out a pass to winger Lakala Perera who sped over 30 metres to score mid left. Senthil Kumar made a splendid conversion to make it 21.3.

Two minutes later China reduced the deficit when prop forward Wong Pi Bo scored mid left off a forwards rush. Shang Zhi Qiang added the extra points to make 21-10 six minutes before the final whistle Sri Lanka winger Sanjeeva Jayasinghe collected a desperate kick by a Chinese defender and dashed through 35 metres to fall over by the right corner flag for an unconverted try and Sri Lanka ran out worthy winners by 26 points to 10.

Referee: Alandi Nandin from Malaysia.

Kazakhstan rout Thailand

Kazakhstan outplayed Thailand by 69 points (7 goals, 4 tries) to 21 (1 goal, 1 try, 2 penalties) in their opening match of the Singer Rugby Asiad match played at the Royal College Sports Complex yesterday.

Flanker Rodov Antovn played an outstanding game for the winners in attack and defence.

The winners led 24-10 at the breather.

Nizam Jamaldeen refereed.