OCA beat Nepal but lose to Thailand

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lanka National rugby outfit playing under the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) ended the 19th Asian Games in China by beating Nepal 68/0 and later losing to Thailand 7/10. 

With little preparation, they improved in each game they played and looked a different outfit and a yard faster in their approach to the game. 

OCA handed off Nepal 68/0 in a ten-try blitz with Anjula Hettiarachchi (2), Kavindu de Costa (2), Dharshana Dabare (2), Adeesha Weerathunge, Tharinda Ratwatte, Ramesh Fernando and Dinupa Seneviratne scoring the tries. Conversions were taken by Tharinda (4), Kavindu (3), Adeesha (1) and Dinupa (1).

OCA was edged out by Thailand 7/10 after losing out star player and skipper Tharinda Ratwatte for concussion. Adam Gauder scored the solitary try for the OCA.

Hong Kong won the Gold Medal beating South Korea 14/7 in the final. Japan got the better of China to win the Bronze. Meanwhile, in the Women’s segment China won the Gold, Japan the Silver and Hong Kong the Bronze.

OCA Head Coach Dushantha Lewke speaking to Daily FT said: “I am really happy with what the players were able to achieve within a very short span of time with little preparations and coming off a six-month break. Losing Tharinda Ratwatte in the final game against Thailand cost us a lot. We want to thank Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) and everyone who supported us to give the opportunity for these players to play in this tournament which is a lifetime achievement. 

“Hope we can plan ahead and build from here and keep this young squad together to play for another 3-5 years. The boys gave their best at the Games for the country and proved they are worthy of wearing the national jersey.”

Other Results:

UAE beat Taipei 42/0, Malaysia beat Singapore 33/7, Hong Kong beat Japan 12/7, South Korea beat China 36/7, Thailand beat Afghanistan 33/12, Singapore beat Taipei 19/12, UAE beat Malaysia 28/14.