Day 1 results of Asian U/19

Monday December 12 2005

Good effort by Sri Lanka

The 2005 8th Asian Rugby Football Union Under-19 Tournament is being held in Lahore,Pakistan, from 10 to 17 December 2005,with 11 participating Unions,10 of whom, played on Day 1. Newcomers Brunei had a bye and will start their campaign on Day 3

Results from Day 1

Korea vs Sri Lanka, 38-13

Defending champions,Korea looked confident and steady throughout with a strong forward pack providing good ball for their backs to work with. Korea have already qualified for a place in Division B in the IRB's 2006 Under-19 World Championships, by reason of their fifth place in Division B of the 2005 world event.

Sri Lanka are looking good as one of the teams that could make a run for the vacant spot for Asia at 2006 IRB World Under-19 being hosted by the Arabian Gulf in Dubai from 4 to 22 April. Their two tries against Korea came from taking their opportunities when they got them, something they need to continue to do.

Japan vs Chinese Taipei, 41-0

Japan, runners Up last year but still favourites win in Lahore, by reason of their 11th place in Division A of the 2005 World event, made hard work of it for the first quarter of the game, being taken to task by a fired up Chinese Taipei forward pack, which saw Japan camped in its own half for the first 20 minutes.

But Chinese Taipei were unable to convert territorial advantage into points against a defiant Japan defence.By the halftime break, Japan had notched up three tries from turn-over ball at the tackle for a 17-0l lead. They took control in the second spell,stepping up a gear and counter attacking effectively.

Kazakhstan vs Thailand, 15-12

Thailand looked to be the team to go through with a handy 12-5 lead at the Interval from a solid first half performance in an intense match that went right down to the wire before a winner was determined.

Persistent professional fouls in the course of a forward-pack attack on the Thai goal line resulted in a penalty try being awarded against them with less than five minutes to play. This cut the Thais lead to 12-10. Kazakhstan looked to be out of it when one of their players was sin-binned,but they were able to retain quality ball and scored in the corner to take an important win.

Malaysia vs Arabian Gulf, 12-7

The aspirations of the Arabian Gulf to play in their own Union-hosted 2006 IRB World Under-19 took a dent in hotly contested stop–start match. Both teams failed to reach their optimum and will be disappointed at not being able to finish the opportunities that they both created. Malaysias two tries against the Gulf lads' one try were enough to secure them a win.

India vs Pakistan, 31-0

There was plenty of emotion before this match, a fixture that was played in great spirit. This was host union, Pakistan's first time to play at a regional Under-19 Tournament.

What they lacked in skill, they made up for in commitment and they defended defiantly against a confident Indian side.

Results at a glance

Korea vs Sri Lanka, 38-13
Japan vs Chinese Taipei, 41-0
Kazakhstan vs Thailand, 15-12
Malaysia vs Arabian Gulf, 12-7
India vs Pakistan, 31-0




Match 11 - India 73 v Brunei 8
India turned up their performance today to run away with their match
against Brunei. Brunei, after a stunning performance in riund 2, struggled
to combat the very determined Indian side.

Match 12 - Korea 40 v Kazakhstan 3
Kazakhstan were able to compete physically with the Koreans but outwide
they outclassed. Korea scrum looks strong and it should be a great final
against Japan.

Match 13 - Japan 74 v Arabian Gulf 0
Japan crusied into the final with a dominant performance against the
Arabian Gulf. The Gulf were still committed to the end but will go away
with do doubt in what they need to do to take on Japan in the future.

Match 14 - Sri Lanka 10 v Thailand 25
In the most intriguing match of the entire tournament (even with one round
to play) Thailand took a memorable win over pre-game favourite Sri Lanka.
After the disappointment of losing to Kazakhstan in Round 1, their win
against Sri Lanka put a spring in their step especially as the bonus point
(for losing by less than 7 against Kazakhstan) was enough to put them
ahead of Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan, who each had one win, and into the
'play off' match for the vacant spot for ARFU at the 2006 IRB U19
Championships.
Sri Lanka could not get into the game and it was not until the last play
of the match that they scored a converted try to bring the scores closer.
Interestly enough was the fact that if Thailand had not got that bonus
point, the converted try would have put Sri Lanka into the 'play off'

Match 15 Chinese Taipei 27 v Malaysia 5
In a hard fought match, Chinese Taipei book themselves in the playoff with
Thailand for the vacant ARFU spot. Both Malaysia and Chinese Taipei were
desperate to win but a strong first half from Chinese Taipei dashed
Malaysia's hopes of a win. Strong forward display for Taipei was too tuff
to handle for the Malaysian team in mauls that resulted in 2 tries.

By Jarrad Gallagher and Jamie Scott in Lahore
.