Mobitel Eagles retain Sri Lanka Super Sevens 2017

Monday, 17 July 2017 00:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Army women's team displayed some quality rugby

The Mobitel Eagles, led by Roshan Weeraratne and coached by Nilfer Ibrahim, won the Sri Lanka Super Sevens although they lost the cup finals 26-12 to EZY Wolves at the racecourse rugby grounds yesterday. The Mobitel Eagles won on aggregate, finishing first in the first leg up in Kandy by recovering spectacularly from a disastrous opening day which finished with them languishing in fourth position. But on Day 2 they saved their best for last, winning two of their three matches against the Access Kings (17-12) and Etisalat Panthers (33-24).

They collected 30 points in the first leg while a second-place finish gave them 25 more points for a total of 55 points against EZY Wolves’ tally of 30 points in the second leg and only 13 points from the first leg Kandy which gave them a total of 43 points.

In the schools segment, Kingswood College accounted for the cup, defeating St. Joseph’s College while St. Peter’s College secured the plate, beating Wesley College, with Science College claiming the bowl by beating the fancied Isipathana. St. Anthony’s College did not return to Kandy empty-handed as they won the shield, beating Zahira College in the shield finals.

Tharinda Ratwatte of Access Kings in action

In the franchise segment Walkers claimed the shield with a win over KBSL Dragons while Access Kings took home the bowl with a close 17-12 win over Softlogic Warriors to secure fifth position overall. In the plate finals the Etisalat Panthers beat the Cargills Gladiators to secure third position. In the women’s segment Navy outclassed Army to clinch the cup.

Kavindu Perera (Cargills), Gayan Weeraratne (Cargills), Nivanka Prasad (Access) and Naveen Heenakankanmge (Etisalat) were outstanding and are sure to have caught the attention of the national selectors ahead of the 2017 Asian Sevens which will take place in two months in Hong Kong, South Korea and Sri Lanka.

The tournament was well organised by Sri Lanka Rugby. Speaking to the media, Tournament Chairman Haren Fernando said: “We are very happy and proud of the way this tournament is improving every year. We want to improve this tournament and make it a tourist attraction as well in the coming years, raising this event to the standard of the Singapore or Hong Kong Sevens. We are very thankful to the main sponsor Dialog Axiata and other team sponsors coming on-aboard with us for this mega event.”

The New Zealand Super 18 champions Hurricanes’ jersey was gifted by former Trinity Rugby Lion Inthi Marikar and was auctioned for Rs. 2 million which was donated to the Science College Rugby Fund. A packed house was treated to some top-class rugby, while the refereeing at the event was of an equally high quality.

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