Sri Lanka storm into final with 77-3 win

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

Sri Lanka stormed into the final of the Singer Rugby Asiad with a runaway 77 points (seven goals, five tries, one penalty) to 3 (one penalty) win over Malaysia in their last Group ‘B’ match of the Cup Championship played at Longden Place yesterday after leading 38-0 at the breather.

The Sri Lankan forwards completely outplayed their counterparts in the loose while the three quarters turned in a dazzling display of open rugby as they completely outplayed the hapless Malaysians to register the highest score of the tournament beating the previous best of 69-21 by Kazakhstan against Thailand last Saturday.

The host nation will now confront Asia’s fourth-ranked team Kazakhstan in the final on November 10 (Saturday) at Longden Place. The Lankans had an abundance of possession with hooker Achala Perera getting the better of his vis-a-vis Mohamed Faiz in the set scrums and the trio of Bandara, Karthelis and Bisthamin holding sway in the line outs.

The Sri Lankans surged into the lead in the third minute when off a second phase move winger Radhika Hettiarachchi touched down mid left.

Amjad Buksh added the extra points and three minutes later Buksh made a break off a scrum in mid field and sped over 30 metres before slipping out a pass to flanker Kasun de Silva who scored under the posts to give Amjad Buksh an easy kick at goal to make it 14-0.

In the 20th minute off a scrum in mid field fly half Saliya Kumara set the three quarters in motion and winger Lakala Perera made a powerful run down the flank and gave an inside pass to prop forward Shamil Mohamed who scored under the posts. Amjad Buksh converted (Sri Lanka 21-0).

Three minutes later off a five metre scrum No. 8 Sumedha Malewana made a break on the blind side and slipped out a pass to scrum half Amjad Buksh who dived over by the left corner flag and then made a spectacular conversion (Sri Lanka 28-0).

In the 28th minute off a three quarter move winger Lakala Perera dashed through 40 metres to fall over for an unconverted try mid left. Five minutes later off a scrum Amjad Buksh slung out a pass to fly half Saliya Kumara who drew the defence and slipped out a pass to winger Radhika Hettiarachchi who scored by the right corner flag.

Buksh missed the conversion and Sri Lanka led 38-0 at ‘lemons’. In the third minute after resumption prop forward Kishore Jehan powered his way past several defenders to score under the posts. Radhika Hettiarachchi added the extra points (Sri Lanka 45-0). Five minutes later off a Malaysian three quarter move Sri Lanka’s substitute centre Lasintha de Costa made an interception and dashed through 40 metres to touch down under the posts.

Radhika Hettiarachchi converted to make it 52-0. Malaysia reduced the deficit when fly half Hirman Ikhwan fired across a 20 metre penalty.

Sri Lanka scored four more tries through Lasintha de Costa (one), Saliya Kumara (one), centre Avantha Hettiarachichi (one) and winger Sanjeeva Jayasinghe (one) of which one was converted by Senthil Kumar who also put over a 20 metre penalty to make it 77-3 at the final whistle.Referee: Ittichai Vattana of Thailand.