Sri Lanka go down fighting to Korea and Thailand

Vernon Gunasekara Reporting from Hong Kong

Sri Lanka went down fighting to formidable Korea by 19 points to 28 on the final day of the Asian qualifier of the World Cup Rugby Sevens after leading 19-7 at half time at the Hong Kong Football Stadium on Sunday.

The Lankans put up a plucky display against the mighty Koreans and opened scoring in the fifth minute when Wasim Thajuedeen after receiving a pass from Mohamed Sheriff ran 60 metres to score a superb try and converted it himself. The Koreans hit back with a try and converted it to make it 7-all.

The Lankans went ahead once again when schoolboy Sajith Saranga scored a try which was converted by Mohamed Sheriff. Just before half time Mohamed Sheriff powered his way to touch down after brushing aside several defenders. He failed to add the extra points and Sri Lanka led 19-7 at the breather.

But in the second half the Koreans came back storming to score three tries and converted all of them to emerge victorious by 28 points (four goals) to 19 (two goals, one try).

In their next match once again the Sri Lankans went down fighting to Thailand by 22 points (one goal, three tries) to 29 (two goals, three tries) after leading 15-10 at the breather.

The Sri Lankans were off to a flying start and scored three successive tries through Pradeep Liyanage, Amjad Buksh and Dinusha Chathuranga to lead 15-nil before the Thais hit back by scoring two tries and Sri Lanka led 15-10 at half time.

The Lankans could add only one more try in the second half through skipper Pradeep Liyanage which was converted but the Thais came up with a fine display to score three splendid tries to emerge triumphant by 29 points to 22.

Schoolboy Sajith Saranga who excelled in the earlier matches was surprisingly left out of the Thailand match.

Thus the Lankans will return home with only a solitary victory over India (49-7) while losing the other three matches to Hong Kong (7-31), Korea (19-28) and Thailand (22-29).