Defending champs Samoa down Sri Lanka 35-7

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATHNE Reporting from Hong Kong

Defending champions Samoa helped by a hat-trick of tries by prop forward Alafoti Faosiliva scored a resounding 35 points (five goals) to 7 (one goal) win over Sri Lanka in a Pool ‘B’ match of the Hong Kong International Rugby Sevens played at the Hong Kong Rugby Stadium on Friday.

Samoa opened scoring in the second minute when prop forward Alapoti Faosiliva crashed through for a try near the posts which was converted by Lolo Lui.

Two minutes later Alafoti Faosiliva touched down near the posts for Lolo Lui to add the extra points to make it 14-0. Just before the breather Alafoti Faosiliva sped over 25 metres to score under the posts. Lolo Lui converted to make it 21-0 at half time.

In the second minute after resumption Samoan scrum half Lolo Lui took a short tap and scampered through to touch down under the posts.

Lolo Lui made no mistake with the conversion and Samoa led 28-0.

Three minutes later Sri Lanka prop forward Radhika Hettiarachchi scored a glorious try when he dashed through 40 metres to score under the posts after picking up a loose ball Saliya Kumara converted.

Just before the final whistle Samoan scrum half Lolo Lui sped over 40 metres to score under the posts and converted it himself to make it 35-7 in favour of Samoa.

New Zealand who are the favourites to win this year’s tournament having being ranked number one in the IRB World Sevens series scored a runaway 50 points to 5 win over Chinese Taipei.

Another strong contender for this year’s Hong Kong Sevens Title Fiji scored a emphatic 42-7 win over Korea while the formidable South Africans routed Japan by 40 points to 7.

In other matches played on Friday Australia struggled to beat host nation Hong Kong by 24 points to 12. While Kenya crushed China by 47 points to 0.

Sri Lanka will play their other Pool ‘B’ matches against England at 11.58 a.m. and Canada at 4.22 p.m. on Saturday.

HONG KONG, Friday