Sri Lanka fight for 5th

The Sri Lanka team that is currently in Guangzhou, China has had fairly average tournament. The Lankan faced the tournament hosts in the 1st match where they lost 26 points to 5. Vishvamithra scored the solitary try for Sri Lanka. 

 

In their second match the Lankans were completely over run by the Korean giants. The Koreans ran riot with a score of 42 points to nil. The kick offs in this match proved to be a worry for the Lankans as the Koreans repeatedly exploited the Lankans when they realized that the prop forward Shenal Dias was not having the best of days under the high ball. 

 

In the final group match which was played late yesterday evening against the immediate neighbours India, Sri Lanka hammered the Indians 42- 12. Anurudhdha Wilvara and Srinath Sooriyabandara were the top try scorers with 2 tries apiece. 

 

The Lankans next faced Hong Kong China in the quarterfinal round. The Sri Lankans fought valiantly and along with a few unfavorable decisions by the Kiwi official lost 19-14. The Lions were the first to score with Saliya Handapangoda taking an inside pass from the youngster Wilvara to score under the posts. Radhika Hettiarachchi was quick to convert to lead 7-0. Hong Kong did not wait long to respond, scoring to the right of the posts through a sloppy piece of defending by Shenal Dias. Hong Kong scored again in quick succession to lead 12-07 at half time. At the start of the second half Sri Lanka went hammer and tongs to score through Handapangoda. Saliya turned on the pace to score under posts to equalize the score with his skipper’s conversion to come.

 

Radhika Hettiarachchi obliged putting over the two points to give the Lankans the lead. Hong Kong outpaced the Lankan defense for their wing to score left of the uprights, to lead 19-14. Sri Lanka fought repeatedly to score but was unsuccessful. Chanka Chandimal went over the line but was held up by the much bigger opposition. Hong Kong who were deep inside their half were awarded a scrum after little ‘Soori’ had chipped the ball forward but it was knocked beyond the dead ball line by the Hong Kong defender. The Sri Lankan players were displeased when the referee indicated the ball went off the half back Sooriyabandara’s hand. Sri Lanka put Hong Kong under pressure in the scrum when their half back fumbled the ball backwards and Radhika Hettiarachchi pounced on the ball and scored. Unfortunately the try was disallowed by the official who said the Lankan Skipper had knocked on. Hong Kong wore the clock down and ran the ball out of play to win the closely fought game. All in all a very unlucky day for Sri Lanka rugby. 

 

Sri Lanka faced Thailand next to decide who would play in the 5th and 6th place play off. The Lankans continued their form beating Thailand 21-17 to get into the running for 5th place. Radhika and the boys will face Malaysia later today in the 5th place playoff.