Sri Lanka secure number 2 in Asian Youth sevens in Malaysia

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lanka youth rugby players under Kevin Dixon became runner-up at the Youth Asian Rugby championship in Johor, Malaysia yesterday. 

In the cup final Sri Lanka lost to the defending champions Hong Kong in the Cup finals 29/15. This was as an excellent performance by the youngsters having only a few training sessions before the tour. Further a few leading players pulled out due to injuries and the ongoing advanced level examinations. The outfit was coached by Colin Dinesh.

Taipei secured third position edging out the hosts Malaysia 12/7. Sri Lanka on the first day beat Thailand 31/5 and drew with Taipei 19 a piece. Against defending champions in the group stages it was a close affair with strong Hong Kong outfit scoring the winning try in the last minute of the game edging out the Sri Lankans 24/19. In the Women’s segment Japan outclassed Hong Kong 38 to nothing in the Cup Final.

On day 2 Sri Lanka beat UAE 33/7 in the quarter final and edged out Malaysia 17/12 in the semi finals.

The second leg of the Asian Youth rugby sevens will now move to Hong Kong on 22 and 23 of August.

Results day 2

Thailand beat Singapore 17/0, Hong Kong beat Kazakhstan 26/5, Malaysia beat Thailand 33/12, Sri Lanka beat UAE 33/7, Hong Kong beat Taipei 27/7, Sri Lanka beat Malaysia 17/12, Singapore beat Kazakhstan 14/10, Thailand beat UAE 26/7, Thailand beat Singapore 22/5, UAE beat Kazakhstan 22/15

Cup Final

Hong Kong beat Sri Lanka 29/15

3rd place play-off

Taipei beat Malaysia 12/7