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| Friday, 5 December 2003 |
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Lankans suffer crushing defeats Ranjeeva Seneviratne reporting from Dubai DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Thursday - Sri Lanka suffered two crushing defeats at the hands of European champions France (7-42) and mighty England (0-75) in their Pool 'A' matches of the Dubai International Rugby Sevens played at Dubai Exiles Rugby grounds here today. In the first match France emerged victorious by 42 points (six goals) to 7 (one goal) after leading 14-7 at the breather. France opened scoring through their hooker Marshal Moulinier who scored under the posts. Fly-half Oliver Toulouse added the extra points. Two minutes later France increased their lead when hooker Marshal Moulinier dashed through 80 metres to score under the posts. Toulouse converted to make it 14-0. On the stroke of half-time Sri Lanka scrum-half Amjad Buksh made a break and ran over 40 metres before slipping out a pass to Dilip Selvam who scored under the posts. Radhika Hettiarachchi converted to reduced the deficit and France led 14-7 at half time. Soon after resumption French centre Julian Saubade crashed through for a try under the posts to give Oliver Toulouse an easy kick at goal. Two minutes later French winger Davy Larquet burst through to touch down under the posts and Toulouse converted to make it 28-7. Two minutes later Julian Saubade scored again and Toulouse added the extra points. Just before the final whistle France's prop-forward Georges Lankri made a thundering 50 metre run to score under the posts. Toulouse converted and the Frenchmen ran out worthy winners by 42-7. In the second match the world's number one ranked team England turned in a dazzling display of rugby to score a runaway 75 points (10 goals, one try) to nil win over Sri Lanka. The Englishmen ran in six tries in the first-half through Richard Haughton (two), Simon Amor (one), Geoff Appleford (one), Tom Rees (one) and Rob Thirlby (one) all of which were converted by skipper Simon Amor to make it 42-nil at the breather. In the second-half England continued their dominance and scored six more tries through Ben Gollings (two), Simon Amor (one), Pat Sanderson (one) and James Brookes (two) of which five were converted by Ben Gollings. In other pool 'A' matches England beat Morocco 45-0. France beat Morocco 35-7. Morocco scored a stunning 19-7 win over Sri Lanka in their final pool 'A' match at the Dubai Exiles rugby grounds here today after the scores stood at 7-all at the breather. Sri Lanka opened scoring in the third minute when Pradeep Liyanage burst through to touch down by the corner flag. Amjad Buksh made a splendid conversion to make it 7-nil. Morocco equalised just before half time when Rashid scored under the posts having dashed through 40 metres and he also added the extra points to make it 7-all at the breather. In the 2nd minute after resumption Morocco took the lead when hooker Jalil Margisi crashed through for a try. Rashid converted. Two minutes before the final whistle hooker Jalil Nargisi powered his way to touch down under the posts to give Rashid an easy kick at goal and Morocco ran out triumphant by 19-7. |
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