MALAYSIA WIN SECOND CONSECUTIVE ARC DIVISION ONE TITLE

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ASIA RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: MALAYSIA 22 - SRI LANKA 9

Malaysia beat Sri Lanka to win the Asia Rugby Championship Division one title. The back-to-back victories mean their World Cup dream remains alive for the qualification process for the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. After winning the Division One title last year, the Bunga Raya squad had shown so much improvements this year and ready to contest against Asia's big teams, Japan, Hong Kong and Korea.

Malaysia ranked 16 places below Sri Lanka in the World Rugby Rankings, took the lead with a try by Jone Mawara Nasalo in the 3rd minute. However, Sri Lanka got their act right and scored two penalties through Thilina Wijesinghe Gurukandure Gedara in the 10th and 14th minutes. And the game got tougher for Malaysia as Jone Mawara and Samuela Tamanisau were shown the yellow cards by the referee. Sri Lanka went into the break with a narrow 6-5 lead.

The Tuskers increased their advantage in the 56th minute with another penalty scored by Thilina. Malaysia got back into the match in the last twenty minutes. A try by Sakiusa Terence Gavidi and conversion by Wan Mohammad Asyraf Norudin in the 23rd minute put Malaysia ahead again. Four minutes later, Malaysia were 19-9 up after a conversion by Muhamad Amirul Aqil Kamsol, following a try by Wong Wye Wye. As Sri Lanka fighting on to keep their chances alive, Muhamad Amirul scored another three points to send the crowd at Ipoh Padang into ecstasy. It was a thrilling game as both sides gave out their best.

Malaysia topped the Asia Division One ahead of Sri Lanka and the Philippines, while UAE finished bottom. The Bunga Raya team will be promoted the Asia Top 3 in 2018 and battle with Hong Kong and Korea for the title and a play-off with the Oceania Cup 2017 winner for a place in the repechage tournament that will determine the 20th and final qualifier for RWC 2019.


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