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Final Leg of the Asian Rugby Sevens Series in
Singapore:
Sri Lanka enter quarter-finals by edging out Philippines 17-15
A last minute try by skipper Fazil Marija after a 80 metre dash
helped Sri Lanka Sevens rugby team to enter the quarter-finals of the
Cup Championship of the fourth and final Leg of the HSBC Asian Rugby
Sevens Series in Singapore by edging out vastly improved Philippines by
17 points to 15 in their second game having earlier crushed Indonesia by
42 points to nil in their first match.
The Lankans opened scoring early in the game through an unconverted
try by scrum half Srinath Sooriyabandara. Just before the breather
Sooriyabandara touched down once again to give Fazil Marija an easy kick
at goal and Sri Lanka led 12-0 at ‘lemons’.
But the Filipinos fought back magnificently in the second half to
score three superb tries none of which were converted and Philippines
led 15-12.
But a last minute try by Sri Lanka skipper Fazil Marija after his
glorious 80-metre run gave the Lankans a face saving 17 points (one
goal, two tries) to 15 (three tries) win much to the relief of his
team-mates.
Earlier, Sri Lanka launched their campaign with a smashing 43 points
(four goals, three tries) to nil win over the minnows of Asian rugby
Indonesia.
Jason Dissanayake opened scoring for the Lankans with an unconverted
try which was followed by a superb try by winger Sandun Herath which was
converted by skipper Fazil Marija. The experienced Saliya Kumara scored
Sri Lanka’s third try and added the extra points himself to make it
19-0.
Just before the breather, debutant Lavanga Perera touched down under
the posts and converted it himself to give Sri Lanka a 26-0 led at the
breather.
Soon after resumption, Sandun Herath scored his second try with
Mithun Hapugoda adding the extra points to make it 33-nil. This was
followed by two unconverted tries by Jason Dissanayake and Sudarshan
Muthuthanthri to give Sri Lanka a runaway 43-0 win.
Sri Lanka will meet China in the quarter-final of the Cup
Championship at 1.15 pm (Singapore time) on Sunday.
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