Hong Kong China produced a ruthless, clinical performance to crush the Sri Lanka Tuskers by 78 points (nine goals, three tries) to 7 (one goal) in their second match of the Asia Rugby Emirates Championship played at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground in Hong Kong yesterday. At half-time, the home team led 33-7.
From the start, Hong Kong China dominated the set-pieces, using their powerful forwards to create space for their backs. The opening try came in the 12th minute when hooker Callum Scot finished off a driving maul, with fly-half Nathan Thierry converting to make it 7-0.
Just three minutes later, number eight Luke Van Der Smit crashed over under the posts, and Thierry added the extras to stretch the lead to 14-0. The hosts showed impressive pace and handling skills, with fullback Matthew Worley sprinting over for the third try in the 20th minute, though the conversion was missed.
Flanker Joshua Mark added the fourth try in the 24th minute, this time converted by winger Paul Altier, making it 26-0. Altier that he scored and converted his own try in the 30th minute for a commanding 33-0 lead.
Sri Lanka found a brief moment of success in the 39th minute. Winger Dinal Ekanayake broke free, sent a neat pass to centre Pasindu Pandara, who weaved past defenders to score under the posts. Captain and fly-half Tarinda Ratwatte converted to make it 7-33 at half-time.
After the break, Hong Kong China resumed control. Altier sprinted through for his second try in the 44th minute, followed by another from fullback Matthew Worley in the 56th minute, with Altier converting to make it 45-7.
The home side’s dominance up front was evident as number eight Van Der Smit scored his second try from a driving maul in the 63rd minute, Altier converting again for 52-7. Moments later, Sri Lanka’s captain Tarinda Ratwatte was yellow-carded, reducing the visitors to 14 men.
Replacement Pierce Ian Mackinlay West powered over for Hong Kong China’s ninth try in the next minute, converted by Altier to make it 59-7. The floodgates stayed open as winger Harry John James Sayers crossed in the 69th minute, with another conversion from Altier making it 66-7.
In the 78th minute, after a dominant scrum, Hong Kong’s front-row combined for the eleventh try, again through Van Der Smit, though unconverted. The final move saw Matthew Worley claim his hat-trick try , with Paul Altier converting to seal a crushing 78-7 victory at the final whistle.
(Sajeewa Jayakody – Daily News)
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