Lanka blitz brings down S.Korea

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

A fourteen minutes blitz by Sri Lanka brought down a fancied South Korean outfit as the Lankans entered the quarter finals with a 22 points (1 goal, 3 tries) to 12 (1 goal, 1 try) win at the Carlton International Rugby 7’s 2009 Asia Pool `Cup’ match at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

The tournament is organised by the `Tharunyata Hetak’ Organisation and conducted by the Interim Committee of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union.

Sri Lanka got their act together right from the outset and inserted the pressure and made fewer mistakes and dominated play. S Lakshan opened scoring with a typical rugby football act kicking the oval shape ball for good distance and picking it up to score. South Korea reduced the lead off a scrum in the Sri Lankan territory. Radhika Hettiarachchi, who was suspended for an year, making a comeback was a source of inspiration in the pack.

Sri Lanka, who earlier beat Pakistan easily by 50 points to 0 points were not that convincing, but played with cohesion against the South Koreans. At half time, Sri Lanka led 12-7.

S.Lakshan (2) and Radhika Hettiarachchi (1) were the try scorers for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will now meet Kazakhstan in the quarter finals at 9.10 a.m. today.

The other quarter finalists: Japan vs. South Korea 8.30 a.m., Chinese Taipei vs. China 8.50 a.m., Malaysia vs. Thailand 9.30 a.m.

In the schools’ semi finals (Cup), Royal will take on St. Anthony’s, Katugastota at 1.55 p.m. while St. Peter’s will take on Isipatana in the second semi final at 2.15 p.m.

Results:

Asian pool: Japan beat Iran 33-nil; Chinese Taipei beat Jordan 31-nil; China beat Brunei 41-nil; South Korea beat Pakistan 24-nil;Kazakhstan beat Iran 15-7; Thailand beat Jordan 14-nil.

International pool: Fiji Digicel bt. Australian Legends 29-5; Papua New Guinea bt. New Zealand Legends 33-19.

Schools’ Quarter finals: St. Peter’s bt. St. Anne’s 36-7; Isipatana bt. Maliyadeva 38-0.

Asian pool: Malaysia bt. Brunei 43-nil; Sri Lanka bt. Pakistan 50-0; Japan bt.Kazakstan 40-nil.

International pool: New Zealand Legends bt. Australian Legends 24-12; Fiji Digicel bt. South African Vipers 28-nil; Western Samoa Barbarians beat Papua New Guinea 29-7.

Schools’ semi finals (Cup) draw: Royal vs. St. Anthony’s, Katugastota 1.55 p.m.; St. Peters vs. Isipatana 2.15 p.m. In the Schools ‘bowl’ final Carey beat Vidyartha 29-0. Admission will be free of charge.