Asia Rugby Division 1: Sri Lanka outclass India comfortably

Tarinda Ratwatte makes a powerful move 

Adeesha Weerathunga hands off an Indian player

By Shamseer Jaleel

Youthful Sri Lankan outfit with more than 9 players making their XV a side debut for the country lived up to high expectation when they outclassed India by 45 points (7 tries, 5 conversions) to 10 points (1 try, 1 conversion, 1 penalty) at the Racecourse ground in Colombo last night.

At the short breather hosts led 21/3.

Sri Lanka showed clear intention that they want to use their speedy three quarter moves as the Indian forwards were expected to be mobile.

The first 10 minutes, India stood out with some good defense plus some threatening three quarter moves but the Sri Lankan forwards were up to the task spoiling their moves.

Sri Lanka scored three unanswered in the first half which put the Indians to defence for most part of the game. Indians who were together in the XV a side rugby though playing at a lower division spoiled many Sri Lankan moves but the lead the hosts created in the first half was far too much for a comeback.

Tarinda Ratwatte, Sohiru Anthony, Adeesha Weerathunga and Mursheed Doray were omnipresent having a grand game while Hirusha Sampath coming in as replacement full back in the last 10 minutes too was high class both in defense as well in attack. Tarinda played a major role in the initial half as Centre and then moved to fill in Thenuka Nanayakkara’s fly half berth. His International exposure in sevens rugby and controlling the game was outstanding.

Indians too played well in patches, They had a lot of territory advantage but could not convert into points as Sri Lanka defence stood strong, Deeapk Kumar and Bharat Dagar stood out for them.

India put over a penalty early in the 2nd minute of the game for a high tackle offence by Thenuka Nanayakkara. Sri Lanka touched down through Pulasthi Dassanayake try. Tarinda Ratwatte was on target with the conversion. Within another 2 minutes Sri Lanka scored their second try through a sweeping three quarter move which ended in Thenuka Nanayakkara’s try. Tarinda Ratwatte added the extra 2 points. In the next couple of minutes Indians defended well but Sudaraka Dikkumbura broke free in the 32nd minute of the game. Tarinda Ratwatte was on target with his third kick at goal to take the short breather 21/3 favouring the hosts.

After the turn around Pulasthi Dassanayake scored his  his second try and Sri Lanka went in to silent mode for some time with fatigue getting in to their body which made their Head Coach, Sanath Martis to make the replacements with one more physical game coming up against Kazakhstan on 4 May. Thenuka Nanayakkara touched down for his second while Tarinda Ratwatte added the extra 2 points.

India scored their only try through their prop forward, Bharat Dagar. Deepak Kumar Punia added the extras. But Sri Lanka hit back soon afterwards through a powerful three quarter move which ended in Tarinda Ratwatte touching down. There was time for replacement full back, Hirusha Sampath to score one try and convert by himself to take Sri Lanka to an easy 45/10 win and book the final berth against Kazakhstan on 4 May at the same venue.

Referee was Just Wang (Singapore)