Carlton Rugby Sevens second leg 2014:

Northern Gladiators steal the limelight on the first day

by Priyan de Silva - Matara Sports Correspondent

The Northern Gladiators remained unbeaten winning all four games while the North Central Typhoons and Uva Vipers won three games each at the conclusion of the first day of the second leg of the ‘Carlton Super Sevens Rugby Tournament 2014’which commenced at the D A Rajapaksa Stadium, Beliatta yesterday.

Carlton Super Sevens aims at inculcating the habit of the sport among Sri Lankan youth and to elevate Sri Lankan Rugby to international level.

Western Warriors player makes a break hotly pursued by a Central Kings player in their match.

The North Central Typhoons, Western Warriors, Central Kings, Uva Vipers and Sabaragamuwa Stallions made up pool A while Northern Gladiators, North Western Blacks, Eastern Eagles, Southern Sharks and Jaffna Challengers made up pool B.

The North Central Typhoons defeated Uva Vipers 28 points to 14, Northern Gladiators beat the Southern Sharks 26 points to 19 and the North Western Blacks overcame Eastern Eagles 19 points to 12 while the Western Warriors led by Yoshitha Rajapaksa held Central Kings led by younger sibling Rohitha to a 19-all draw in the first session of the second leg.

In a good come back Uva Vipers led by Shehan Pathirana got the better of Sabaragamuwa Stallions by 27 points to 14 while Central Kings led by Rohitha Rajapaksa outclassed the first round champs at Kurunegala North Central Typhoons by 19 points to nil. The Jaffna Challengers led by Saliya Kumara defeated the Southern Sharks by 17 points to 12 while the Northern Gladiators led by Fazil Marija overcame The Eastern Eagles by a massive 26 points to nil in the second session of the morning.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa led the Western Warriors to their first win of the day when they defeated Sabaragamuwa Stallions 26 points to 24. Uva Vipers registered their second win of the day by defeating Central Kings 19 points 14. The Central Kings led 14 points to 12 at half time. North Western Blacks registered their second win of the day by beating Jaffna Challengers 26 points to 14. The Southern Sharks led by Dinusha Chathuranga registered their first win of the day defeating the Eastern Eagles 24 points to nil in the last game of the third session.

Southern Sharks player is confronted by two Northern Gladiators players in their match played at DA Rajapaksa Stadium, Beliatta yesterday. Pix : Priyan de Silva, Matara Sports corr.

Western Warriors sans their skipper Yoshitha Rajapaksa who was injured in the game against the Sabaragamuwa Stallions were defeated 19 points to five by the North Central Typhoons. Central Kings who led seven points to five at half time went on to defeat the Sabaragamuwa Stallions 26 to 05. The game between the Northern Gladiators and the Norh Western Blacks was played in the sudden down pour that fell on the D A Rajapakse stadium and was won by the Northern Gladiators 24 pints to 12. The Gladiators third win of the day. The game between The Eastern Eagles and The Jaffna Challengers ended in a 12 all draw.

In the last session of the day Uva vipers had the better of the Western Warriors 19 points to 15. The North Central Typhoons overcame the Sabaragamuwa Stallions by 34 points to niI, the largest margin of the day and the Sharks defeated North Western Blacks 19 points to nil.

The Northern gladiators registered their fourth win defeating the Jaffna Challengers 20 points to five in the final game of the day The Gladiators lead the group B points table with 12 points while North Central Typhoons lead group A with 10 points. Anurddha Wilwara skipper of the North Central Typhoons scored seven tries.

Credit should go to Pitch Marshal Ana Wijerathne, for starting the 20 games on the dot yesterday.

The second leg of the Carlton Rugby Sevens Tournament 2014 will end today (Sunday).