Hong Kong inflict heavy defeat on Tuskers
U-19 Rugby World Cup Qualifier
Heavyweights Hong Kong had the better of a disarrayed Sri Lankan outfit 37-8 in the Asian Under-19 Rugby Championships 2017 - World Rugby Trophy Qualifier first-leg fixture played at the Race Course Grounds in Reid Avenue yesterday.
It was a walk in the park for the ‘Red Shirts’ as they outclassed the hosts in all areas throughout the game.
The scores read 22-3 in favour of the visitors at half time.
With the scorching sun above them, Hong Kong got off to a fiery start pushing up front, which took the Tuskers by surprise.
With just seven minutes on the clock, Hong Kong struck when fly half Paul Altier collected a nifty pass from Marcus Ramage dangerously close the touch line and touched down.
Altier added the extras with ease, making the scores read 7-0.
In search of a reply, the hosts tried their best to get through the Hong Kong defence, but were outmatched by their opponents.
Sri Lanka however, did well to block a few incoming charges by Hong Kong and managed to earn a penalty.
Full back Chamod Fernando bisected the poles with precision, to put up the first points on the board for the hosts (7-3).
The Tuskers, boosted by the success kept pushing up field, but were not able to get their execution right, as a clear chance of scoring a try was missed.
Fernando missed a penalty awarded a few minutes later, which resulted in groans from the packed-audience.
They had to pay the price for their mistakes however when Hong Kong produced a beautifully executed try through Alex Nisbet minutes later (12-3).
Six minutes later, Marcus, collecting the ball from Altier, left the Lankan backline in disarray as the right-wing eluded four players before going over the line to make the scores read 17-3.
Hong Kong had enough time for a fourth try as Shun Hong Chong planted the ball two minutes later, after commanding through the lacklustre Lankan backline. Altier missed his third conversion before the half time whistle was blown (22-3).
Sri Lanka started off well when play resumed, getting the ball and working it out up-field.
Soon the scores were amended to 22-8 when Eshan Dissanayake slipped through the Hong Kong defence to put up the first try for the hosts.
Fernando missed his kick by whiskers in the conversion.
From then onwards it was Hong Kong all over as they began their massacring once more.
Just after Gihan Madushanka was sin-binned for a high-tackle, Hong Kong managed to extend their lead when Gregor Ramage powered his way to go over the line, to make the scores read 27-8.
Both sides made many substitutions but it was Marcus who was at it again, when he collected the ball and ran past the defence to plant Hong Kong’s sixth try for the day. The scores were amended to 32-8.
Hong Kong managed to rub salt into the Lankan wounds when an erroneous throw-in by the hosts, resulted in the ball being handed over to Jay Cooke, who muscled his way quite comfortably over the line.
The scoreboard was amended to 37-8, when the Referee blew the long-whistle.
The second round fixture is scheduled to be played on December 16 at the Hong Kong Football Club Grounds in Hong Kong.