South Korea rally to overpower hosts in Asia Rugby Top 4 opener Sri Lanka show grit in close encounter

Sri Lanka scrum half Heshan Jensen on his way to score a try  

By Shamseer Jaleel  

In a fiercely contested Asia Rugby Top 4 clash at the Racecourse ground, Sri Lanka displayed immense fighting spirit before narrowly going down 38/34 to a seasoned South Korean outfit.   

The match, played under humid evening skies, was a gripping affair that saw momentum swing both ways before the visitors edged ahead in the final quarter after Sri Lanka enjoyed a 29/14 lead through two quick tries by Lahiru Thilakaratne and Heshan Jensen early in the second half. Sadly the ground was almost empty.  

At the halftime whistle, Sri Lanka held a slender 17/14 lead showing fine aggression to their early tactical execution. Sri Lanka played with purpose and flair, especially through their backline, where the likes of Dinal Ekanayake, Heshan Jensen and Tarinda Ratwatte consistently threatened the South Korean defence along with Mursheed Doray.  

Scrum-half Heshan Jensen was a live wire throughout the game, dictating the tempo and marshalling the forwards efficiently. Dinal Ekanayake and Ratwatte combined well in midfield, creating line breaks and drawing penalties with intelligent running lines and quick hands.   

In the forwards, Thilina Bandara was a towering presence, regularly breaking the gain line and putting in some key tackles. Young Lasindu Karunathilake also showed glimpses of promise, although the overall inexperience of the forward pack told in the second half.  

Sri Lanka crossed the try line five times, with Mursheed Doray, Pasindu Bandara, Lahiru Thilakaratne, Heshan Jensen and Dinal Ekanayake all dotting down. Ratwatte converted three of them plus put over a solitary penalty.  

However, South Korea’s depth and composure proved crucial in the closing stages. Their experienced bench, particularly in the forwards, brought renewed energy and control in tight phases. Full back Hyungoo Jang, winger Yeonsik Jeong and powerful No. 8 Jeongwook Hwang were instrumental in the visitors’ comeback, combining speed with strategic awareness.   

Tries from Jeongmin Jang, Okgi Noh, Seokhwan Jang, Yeonsik Jeong and Nauk Kim helped the visitors edge ahead late in the game, with Jang adding valuable conversions.  

Referee J.P. Clement handled proceedings well.  

Despite the defeat, Sri Lanka can take heart from their spirited performance. They matched South Korea for long stretches and showed they can compete with Asia’s top-tier teams. With nearly six of the seniors to return for the Hong Kong game, Sri Lanka will be expecting good things to come their way in the AR Top 4 later in the series.  

Sri Lanka next face Hong Kong away on June 22 in what promises to be another stern test.