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Asian Rugby Sevens Series 1st Leg :
Tuskers lose to Hong Kong in last minute penalty
by Indika Welagedara
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A Sri Lankan women’s team player fends off a Singapore
challenge on her way to scoring a try in the Plate final
played at Hong Kong yesterday.
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The young and inexperienced Sri Lanka national team led by Danushka
Ranjan even without 10 regular experienced players almost created
history when they lost the Cup Championship final to Asian number two
ranked Hong Kong off the very last move by 22 points (3 tries, 2
conversions, 1 penalty) to 17 (3 tries, 1 conversion) in the Asian Rugby
Sevens Series first leg at Hong Kong yesterday.
The Lankan Tuskers were really unlucky to be deprived of a certain
Cup Championship win in the final because of the Australian referee’s
blunder on two occasions – on the last try and the penalty. Sri Lanka
opened scoring through captain and centre Danushka Ranjan who touched
down for a brilliant try which was converted by deputy skipper and fly
half Dulaj Perera to go into a 7-nil lead. Hong Kong cut down the lead
to 7-5 with an unconverted try scored by James
Cunningham.They scored their second try in quick succession through
Chris Mazes who also did the conversion for Hong Kong to go into the
lead for the first time by 12-7. This score stood at half time.
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Sri Lanka captain Danushka Ranjan on his way to scoring a
try in the Cup final against Hong Kong yesterday. |
After the turn around Sri Lanka scored a sensational unconverted try
through their winger Jason Dissanayaka to equal the scores 12-all.
Tuskers scored again through captain cum centre Ranjan who capitalised
on a Hong Kong mistake to score a superb unconverted try and Sri Lanka
took the lead 17-12. Immediately afterwards Hong Kong scored through
season campaigner Lee Jones which was converted by Mazes to regain the
lead 19-17.
In the very last move of the day Hong Kong were awarded a penalty
which was converted by Jones to snatch a 22-19 hard fought victory.
Earlier in the day in the semi-final match Sri Lanka edged out unbeaten
China 19-17. The Tusker’s tries were scored by winger Jason Dissanayaka
(one), centre Danushka Ranjan (one) and scrum half Kevin Dixon who
scored a try after a spectacular 75 meter dash. The two conversions were
slotted in by Dulaj Perera.
Lankan women unlucky to lose Plate final
Sri Lanka national women’s rugby team under head coach Sudath Sampath
created history by entering a final for the first time but were
unfortunate to lose to Singapore in the last minute by 10 points (2
tries) to 7 (1 try,
1 conversion) in the Plate Championship final of the Asian Rugby
Sevens Series 1st leg played in Hong Kong yesterday.
In the semi-finals the Sri Lankan lasses beat Guam 26-0. |
