Japan and Fiji reign supreme at Carlton Sri Lanka Sevens

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

Japan’s skipper Koji Wada who scored four superb tries to help his team to clinch the Asian Sevens Title is about to evade a tackle by a Malaysian defender on his way to score his team’s third try in the Asian sevens final played at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday. Picture by Ranjith Jayaweera.

Fiji Digical’s William Ryder making a break with support coming from his team-make Osea Kounisau in the international final which Fiji won 36-12. Picture by Ranjith Jayaweera.

Asian heavyweights Japan and the mighty Fiji Digicel reigned supreme at the Carlton Sri Lanka Sevens 2009 which concluded at the Sugathadas Stadium on Sunday.

The Japanese who arrived in Sri Lanka after having won the Malaysian Sevens and emerging runners up of the Shanghai Sevens turned in a dazzling display of rugby which delighted the rugby fans.

Their began their campaign by brushing aside Iran (33-0) and the strong Kazakhstan (40-0) and went onto score two smashing wins over formidable South Korea (35-7) and Chinese Taipei (40-7) to storm into the final.

After being contained by the gallant Malaysians in the first half in which they trailed 5-7 the Japanese helped by the individual brilliance of their skipper Koji Wada who scored four scintillating tries went onto register a majestic 26-7 win.

Wada who had an excellent tournament was the highest try scorer touching down on ten occasions while fly half Kenji Shomen too gave a superb display to emerge as the leading points scorer.

The Lankans gave a disappointing performance on the second day to be knocked out of the Plate semi-finals by Thailand (14-28) after losing to Kasakhstan (12-17) in the Cup quarter-finals despite a superb effort from Dharmaraja schoolboy Darshana Etipola who scored both tries for Sri Lanka.

The Lankans came up with a stupendous performance to beat the mighty South Koreans by 22-12 after having crushed Pakistan (52-0) on the first day.

Fly half Samantha Lakshan was the most impressive of the Sri Lanka ruggerites ably supported by Radhika Hettiarachchi, Suranga Pushapkumara and Chula Susantha.

Fiji Digicel came up with a marvellous display to take the International Title with a smashing 36-12 win over South African Vipers in the final.

They remained unbeaten by beating Australian Legends (28-5), South African Vipers (28-12), New Zealand Legends, Western Samoa Barbarians and Papua New Guinea in the league matches. William Ryder easily the best Sevens player in the world had a marvellous tournament by scoring 50 points with eight tries and five conversions. Niamenia Rokobu and Osea Kounisau too shone for the Fiji Digicel with their power-packed runs. Western Samoa Barbarians had the consolation of ending up in third position with a 14-5 win over New Zealand Legends in the third place play off.

Thailand staged a superb fight back in the last two minutes to snatch a thrilling 15-12 win over South Korea helped by two splendid tries by winger Kanthipong Meepin.