Challengers, Blacks Joint Champs

Challengers crowned champs in Carlton Colombo leg:

Dilanka MANNAKKARA

The Jaffna Challengers and The first leg winners North Western Blacks who had a horror second day in Colombo were declared joint champs obtaining equal 37 points when the Carlton Super 7s 2012 concluded at the Police Park grounds yesterday.

The star studded Uva Vipers team had to be satisfied with an overall third position with ...points.

The Jaffna Challengers led by Yoshitha Rajapaksa with their Fiji star player contingent won the second leg of the Carlton 7s 2012 by defeating the giant killers Western Warriors 26-17 in the final played under lights in front of a huge crowd who witnessed some top class rugby by the world’s best 7s stars.

The Challengers led the game at half time 19-00 and a late rally by the Warriors helped them to get to 17 points.Challengers scored their points through three goals and one try while the Warriors scored two goals and one try.Challengers scored their first try through Fijian Wasoni Rako.

Another two tries followed and one was scored by Merks Silva who was adjudged the best player in the Colombo leg.The other try was scored for the Challengers by Dilip Methruwan.In the second half Lewasi of Warriors was on the scoring sheet and a fine try by Eranda Weerakoddy followed for the Challengers.The Warriors increased their score through Kiwi star Waisake and then former Trinitian Kanchana Ramanayke scored another try to leave the score 26-17.

Vipers, Eagles face horror defeats

In the Cup semi finals, the favorites to win the title the Uva Vipers team had to pay for their costly mistakes in the second half as they were defeated by the Challengers 24-12.The Vipers who dominated through out the first half through their playmaker Charles Piuatu, skipper Forbes and Tomasi Cama were shell shocked after the horror defeat.

The Eastern Eagles who delivered giant killing performances through out in Colombo were out of gas in the next Cup semi final.Western Warriors who were the surprise package crushed the dominant Eagles 29-07 as their Kiwi star Waisake scored a hatrick of tries.

The Vipers eliminated the Kandy leg champions North Western Blacks 14-10 in an intense Cup quarter final which turned out to be a cliffhanger. It was a battle for the ages as both sides possessing All Blacks stars locked horns with each other and Piutau who was like a raging bull scored twice for the Vipers. The Vipers however won the third place by defeating the giant killers Eastern Eagles 35-19.

Again it was the Piutau show as he scored another hatrick of tries.

Ashane De Costa who was full of pace also scored for the Vipers while skipper Forbes was among the thick of things.Chamara Vithanage and English lethal finisher Simon Hunt scored for the Eagles.

Foreign stars shine, locals not far behind

A little known Merks Silva of Jaffna Challenger s won the award for the best local player in the Colombo Leg.However Peum Jayasinghe of North Western Blacks was on song once again while the ever promising Nigel Ratwatte was a treat to watch with his pace and cover defnses.

Ashane De Costa as well as Srinath Sooriyabandara played their hearts out and Saliya Handapangoda,Charith Senevirathne and Chanaka Chandimal were rock solid in defense.