Hong Kong opened scoring in the very first minute through winger Lee Jones who touched down for an unconverted try to go into 5-nil lead. They scored their second unconverted try in the third minute of play through Alex Mcqueen who collected a pass from his brother Tom Mcqueen and scored to increase the lead to 10-nil which was the score at half time.

Soon after the breather Hong Kong scored their third unconverted try through captain Max Woodward in the eighth minute to increase the score further to 15-nil.

In the very last move of the day Hong Kong scored a try through the other brother Tom Mcqueen which was converted by brother Alex to earn a 22 points to nil victory against the very young and newlook inexperienced Sri Lankans who were sans nine experienced regulars from Kandy Sports Club.

Earlier in the day in their first match Sri Lanka thrashed Chinese Taipei by 43 points to 12.

The Tusker’s tries were scored by Kevin Dixon (two), Hirantha Perera (one), Tarinda Ratwatte (one), Jason Dissanayake (one) and Saliya Hadapangoda (one). Dulaj Perera slotted in five conversions.

In their next match Sri Lanka routed Malaysia 40-12 with tries scored by Jason Dissanayake (two), Tarinda Ratwatte (two), Danushka Ranjan (one), Kavindu Perera (one) and Dinusha Chathuranga (one). Two conversions each were put over by Dulaj Perera and Jason Dissanayake.

Sri Lanka will play opposite group leaders China in the Cup semi-finals while the other semi-final will most probably be against group leaders Hong Kong and the opposite group runners up Koreans.

In the other group matches which took place yesterday Asian giants and rank number one team Japan were relegated to the Bowl competition after shockingly losing 10-12 to China in their first group game and to the Koreans 5-19 in their last group match and crashed out the Cup championship..

WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT

*Meanwhile in the women’s competition Sri Lanka fared really well when they thrashed Uzbekistan by 39 points to nil and went down fighting to Asian champions and number one ranked Thailand by 7-14 and China by 0-37.

The final kicked off past 6 pm, and in the first half St. Peter’s were able to score a goal. In the second half play was possible only for three minutes and Peterites were able to score a try and increase their tally to 12-0.

This final had to be called off in the third minute of the second half due to bad light, according to Schools Association rugby secretary Denzil Darling. Both teams had before the match agreed to the conditions that in the event of the match being stopped due to bad light the winner will be the team that is leading on points. In this instance the Peterites who were the only team to score were awarded the title.

The event ran for two days at the Nittawela and Bogambara Stadiums. Originally they were to play the first day matches at Pallekelle and Bogamabara, but in the eleventh hour they changed it to Nittawela.

The tournament was organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association and sponsored by Nestle and featured some of the best under 16 rugby players from the country.

Overall 384 young schoolboys from 32 schools were seen in action. Originally 34 schools were to participate but two schools from Malate and from Moratuwa pulled out.

The tournament has been held annually since 1995 and is one of the largest annual rugby competitions amongst schools, drawing large crowds.

Cup

(Quarterfinals): St. Peter’s beat St. Anthony’s, Trinity beat Kingswood, Royal beat Wesley and Science beat Isipathana; (Semi-finals): St. Peter’s beat Trinity and Royal beat Science.

Plate

In the Plate final Kingswood College defeated Wesley College 14-12. Both teams dished out a superb game of rugby, and the winning team saved their best for the last. In the semi-finals Kingswood beat St. Anthony’s and Wesley beat Isipathana.

Bowl

In the final St. Joseph’s beat D.S. Senanayake 19-5. In semis St. Joseph’s beat Dharmaraja and D.S. Senanayake beat C.W.W. Kannangara MV

Shield

In the Shield final, Ananda beat arch rivals Nalanda 20-nil. In the semi-finals Ananda beat Thurstan and Nalanda beat St. Sylvester’s.

Peiris was placed first with a timing of 58.74 seconds in the Under-16, 100m Back Stroke event.

With his impressive performance the Champion Swimmer brought the first and the only medal that Sri Lanka was able to win in this swimming meet.

The swimming prodigy from St. Peter’s expressed his gratitude to the Rector of St. Peter’s College, Rev. Fr. Trevor Martin – Sports Coordinator Rev Fr Thilina Pathum, Master in-charge Jude Denzil, College Head Coach Mahi Chandralal, College Coach Upul Wijithasiri and National Coach Julian Bolling and the rest of the coaches and his parents for helping him achieve success.

Speaking exclusively to Daily News Akalanka said “ I am very happy to win the first medal for my team and the country because this will give much needed motivation to other swimmers to win medals. My ultimate goal is to win a Olympic medal for my motherland,” concluded Akalanka

Peiris was placed first with a timing of 58.74 seconds in the Under-16, 100m Back Stroke event.

With his impressive performance the Champion Swimmer brought the first and the only medal that Sri Lanka was able to win in this swimming meet.

The swimming prodigy from St. Peter’s expressed his gratitude to the Rector of St. Peter’s College, Rev. Fr. Trevor Martin – Sports Coordinator Rev Fr Thilina Pathum, Master in-charge Jude Denzil, College Head Coach Mahi Chandralal, College Coach Upul Wijithasiri and National Coach Julian Bolling and the rest of the coaches and his parents for helping him achieve success.

Speaking exclusively to Daily News Akalanka said “ I am very happy to win the first medal for my team and the country because this will give much needed motivation to other swimmers to win medals. My ultimate goal is to win a Olympic medal for my motherland,” concluded Akalanka.

Incidentally Omalka was the vice-captain to ex-Peterite skipper Kevin ‘Kutty’ Dixon when they participated in the Asian under 20 Seven’s series in Malaysia and Hong Kong. But this time around the selectors have appointed Dixon as Omalka’s deputy for this 15-a-side tournament in Singapore. The side is coached by Sanath Martis one of the best coach’s in the business. Martis produced this year’s unbeaten Royal College rugby team.

Former St. Peter’s College rugby captain and present consultant coach of the knockout winning Science College Colin Peter Denish will function as the assistant coach.

Former Royal ruggerite Buddika Kulatunga, nephew of late Major General Paramee Kulatunga will manage the team. Sri Lanka has been drawn in the same pool alongside Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and host Singapore. The tournament will worked off from December 13-19.