South Korea used all their international experience to defeat a gallant Sri Lankan outfit by 38 points (four goals, two tries) to 34 (three goals, two tries, one penalty) in a nail-biting Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship Playoff, played at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo yesterday after trailing 14-17 at the ‘breather’.
Sri Lanka, who led 17-14 at halftime and stayed ahead for most of the second half, fought with heart and courage but a few crucial errors and a penalty try proved costly in the final stages.
Despite never having beaten the Asian giants before, the home side came heartbreakingly close to recording a famous win.
South Korea opened the scoring in the seventh minute when winger Yeonsik Geon broke through Sri Lanka’s defence to score on the left corner. Fullback Hyungdo Jang added the extras to make it 7-0.
Sri Lanka responded beautifully in the 16th minute. Fullback Mursheed Doray touched down under the posts after a smart pass from winger Pasindu Bandara, who collected an initial pass from skipper and fly-half Tarinda Ratwatte. Ratwatte converted to level the scores at 7-all. Ratwatte then kicked a 45-metre penalty in the 20th minute to give Sri Lanka a 10-7 lead. South Korea hit back in the 38th minute when flanker Okgi Noh crossed mid-right. Jang converted, restoring their lead at 14-10.
But the fighting Sri Lankans weren’t done. Winger Pasindu Bandara broke through with a brilliant try after a superb move involving fullback Doray. Ratwatte converted again, and Sri Lanka took a 17-14 lead into halftime.
The Tuskers stormed into the second half with flanker Lahiru Thilakaratne crashing over for a try near the posts in the 42nd minute. Ratwatte added the extras to stretch the lead to 24-14.
Just minutes later, scrum-half Heshan Jansen darted over for another try after a slick offload from centre Adam Gauder. Although Ratwatte missed the conversion, Sri Lanka surged ahead 29-14 by the 46th minute.
South Korea regrouped quickly. Replacement Namuk Kim breached the Sri Lankan defence to score in the 48th minute. Jang converted, narrowing the gap to 29-21.
Another try followed for South Korea in the 55th minute, when replacement front-row forward Namuk Kim touched down after a counter-attack. This time the conversion was missed, but the visitors closed in at 26-29.
In the 62nd minute, winger Yeonsik Geon dived over on the right corner for another unconverted try, putting South Korea back in front 31-29.
The turning point came in the 69th minute when referee JP Clement awarded a penalty try to South Korea following a collapsed scrum near the posts. Sri Lanka’s scrum-half Heshan Jansen was sin-binned, reducing the home side to 14 men. South Korea now led 38-29.
Yet, the brave Sri Lankans refused to give up. In the 77th minute, after a strong run by number eight Lasindu Karunathilake, winger Dinal Ekanayake finished off a fine move on the left corner. However, Ratwatte’s difficult conversion attempt missed, leaving the scores at 38-34.
Sri Lanka pushed hard in the final moments but time ran out. At the final whistle, the experienced South Koreans held on for a narrow 38-34 win, breaking Sri Lankan hearts in front of a passionate Colombo crowd.
(Daily News)
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