South Korea edges past hosts Sri Lanka in close encounter

Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025 Top 4

Saturday, 14 June 2025 00:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka skipper Tarinda Ratwatte held Korean player – Pic by Upul Abayasekara

By Shamseer Jaleel

In a nail-biting opener of the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025 Top 4, South Korea narrowly edged past hosts Sri Lanka with a 38/34 victory at the half packed Racecourse Ground last evening.

At the short breather it was Sri Lanka who led 17/14.

Sri Lanka started brightly and looked intent on making a statement. The home team’s offensive flair was evident from the outset, with five different players Mursheed Doray, Pasindu Bandara, Lahiru Thilakaratne, Heshan Jansen, and Dinal Ekanayake crossing the try line. Fly-half and skipper, Tarinda Ratwatte was sharp off the tee, slotting home three conversions and a penalty, contributing a total of 11 points to Sri Lanka’s tally.

However, South Korea responded with a clinical performance of their own. Their forward pack laid a solid platform, allowing their backline to fire. Tries from Jeongmin Jang, Okgi Noh, Namuk Kim, Soonhyuck Kang, Yeonsik Jeong and one penalty try while Hyungoo Jang added three conversions to round off a well-rounded attacking display.

The contest was evenly poised throughout, with the scoreboard seesawing between the two sides. Sri Lanka showed immense grit and determination, particularly in the second half, clawing their way back from a 12-point deficit. Heshan Jansen’s powerful try brought the crowd to life, but he was also shown a yellow card late in the game, which proved costly as it temporarily left Sri Lanka a man down at a crucial stage.

Despite a spirited final push from the hosts, South Korea’s defensive composure held firm in the dying minutes. Their experience and tactical discipline helped them close out the match, silencing the home supporters in a dramatic finish. Plus their replacement players were of good speed.

Referee J.P. Clement handled the game.

Sri Lanka will play Hong Kong in an away encounter on 22 June.

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