Chinese Taipei in 35-23 win over Sri Lanka

by Jatila KARAWITA

Sri Lanka’s quest to join the top-five of Asian rugby came apart at the seams as hosts Chinese Taipei cruised to a comfortable 35-23 win in their HSBC Asian Five Nations - Division One Tournament match in Taipei last evening.

Senior DIG Nimal Lewke, President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) who was in Chinese Taipei to attend a Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) meeting told the Sunday Observer that Sri Lanka had been badly exposed in all facets of the game.

He said that despite Sri Lanka managing to gain some parity in the forwards they had been completely outplayed by their hosts.

DIG Lewke stated that among the forwards captain Dilanka Wijesekera, Dhanushka Perera and Dushanth Lewke had excelled in the loose against the more formidable Chinese Taipei forward pack.

However, the three-quarters of Sri Lanka had been guilty of conceding at least two gift tries to the opposition and overall they had been found wanting in defence.

Sri Lanka who trailed Chinese Taipei 27-6 at half-time, had trailed the home side 27-9 fourteen minutes into the second-half and 23-32 in the 71st minute before the hosts had scored a penalty to seal the game without breaking sweat.

As a result of Sri Lanka’s loss to Chinese Taipei, Singapore qualified to face the likes of Asian giant Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan from 2009.

Sri Lanka who were led by CH & FC flanker Dilanka Wijesekera yesterday, is likely to be relegated to the bottom-tier of Asian rugby and will be compelled to face up to mediocre opposition like India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei.

Singapore who drew 20-all with Sri Lanka before beating Chinese Taipei 23-22 ended the tri-nation series as the only unbeaten team while Chinese Taipei and Sri Lanka ended-up in the second and third places respectively.