Lanka lose to Australia and Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka led by Fazil Marija, put up a brave resistance before going down fighting 56-12 to impressive Australia, while suffering a 33-14 defeat to Zimbabwe, in their two Pool ‘C’ matches, on day two of the on-going Cathay/Pacific Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens, continued at the Causeway Bay Stadium in Hong Kong, yesterday.For Sri Lanka, Radhika Hettiarachchi stood out with a brace of tries in their tie against the Wallabies, while in their next outing against the African nation, skipper Marija and Sanjeewa Jayasinghe crossed over.

When contacted by ‘Sunday Observer’, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) Interim Committee Dr. Maiya Gunasekera said that Sri Lanka had qualified to compete in the ‘Bowl’ quarter-final, due to start later today, by virtue of scoring four tries so far in their ‘Pool C’ games.

He said that Sri Lanka could have even toppled Zimbabwe, had they cut out unnecessary mistakes and tightened up their defence, but was content with their showing against much fancied Australia.

Dr. Gunasekera stated that most probably either Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, China or even Zimbabwe could become one of Sri Lanka’s ‘Bowl’ quarter final opponents, later on Sunday (Mar 29), and expressed his optimism of the team making to the final of that segment ‘if they could put their heart and soul into their performance’, as he described it.

Sri Lanka had earlier come unstuck to reigning champs New Zealand 59-0 in their opening ‘Pool C’ game.