Sri Lanka fails to secure final berth; ends at number 3

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lankan Sevens outfit led by Fazil Marija ended the third leg of the Asian Sevens series 2015 by securing number three position at the Race Course Rugby grounds in Colombo yesterday. 

Sri Lankans put-up a brave performance going down to the Asian Sevens champions, Japan by one converted try. 

After being eliminated to the  third place play-off the home team handed off Malaysians in one way traffic beating them 45/12. 

Meanwhile Asian rugby giants Japan continued their winning streak at the Asian Sevens series when they not only won the Cup finals beating Hong Kong but also securing the over-all championship in the three leg Asian sevens circuit.

Sri Lanka after overcoming a second string South Korean in a close cup quarter finals, walked in to the semi-final encounter against Japan which started off well with Shehan Pathirana securing the kick-off high ball. 

He beautifully worked the line with Nigel Ratwatte slinging out a pass to Sandun Herath who just got to cover about 20 meters for the try line. But he knocked it on. 

From that time on wards Japanese outfit re-grouped and scored three back to back tries to fetch up some useful points on the board. Just before the short breather Danushka Ranjan found gaping holes in the Japanese defense to touch down the only try.

After the turn -around Japanese scored one more try but the home team fought back with some excellent rugby. Ranjan touched down his second try and Wilwara’s powerful run and hand off brought the home team within one converted try difference but it was so close and yet so far as Sri Lanka ran out of time and missed out on a Cup final in front of the home crowd in skipper Fazil Marija’s farewell tournament. 

“We fought back well against Japan and came closer to entering the Cup finals. A few errors cost us the game. I would like to thank the entire team, coaching staff and rugby loving supporters for the full support given to me and the team during my leadership,” Fazil Marija said. 

“We will give a good account at the Sevens tournament next month in Hong Kong for the Asian Qualifiers of the Rio Olympics 2016,” he added. 

Meanwhile Sri Lankan women’s outfit ended the tournament on a pathetic note languishing at the last position out of 8 teams event. 

They lost to Thailand (17/0), Uzbekistan (17/7) and Singapore (17/14). Japan Women’s outfit too won the Cup segment (33/12).

Cup Final

Japan beat Hong Kong 

29/22 

3rd place

Sri Lanka beat Malaysia 45/12

Cup semi-finals

Japan beat Sri Lanka 

26/19 

Hong Kong beat Malaysia 38/7

Plate Final

South Korea beat Taipei 18/10

7/8 place

China beat Thailand 26/19 

Cup Quarter final

Sri Lanka beat South Korea 18/12, Japan beat China 31/5, Malaysia beat Thailand 43/0, Hong Kong beat Taipei 33/5