Sri Lanka Sevens teams lose opening matches at CWG 2022

By Susil Premalal - Reporting from Birmingham, England   

Sri Lanka’s Men’s and Women’s Rugby Sevens teams suffered heavy defeats in their opening matches at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games yesterday.  

Sri Lanka’s Women’s team, led by Anusha Attanayake, lost 57-00 to hosts England, who ran in six goals and three tries, leading 33-00 at half-time.  

Ellie Boatman scored England’s first three tries inside the first five minutes, all of which were converted by Alicia Maude.  

Amy Wilson Hardy scored for England less than a minute late, a try again converted by Maude, who missed her next attempt when Boatman scored her fourth try shortly before the half-time whistle.  

The Men’s team meanwhile, were blown away by New Zealand, who ran in nine tries in a 63-05 win.  
New Zealand led 28-05 at the short whistle, Scott Curry the first to touch down in the second minute, with Ngarohi McGarvey-Black scoring a try and putting over four conversions.  

Joe Webber scored New Zealand’s fourth try at the 5:33 mark, before Ashan Ratwatte gave Sri Lanka a reason to smile, touching down with a minute left in the half.  

McGarvey-Black scored again two minutes after the break, converting it himself, with tries also coming from Dylan Collier, Akuila Rokolisoa, Sione Molia and Caleb Tangitua – Rokolisoa on target with the extra points.  
In the other three games, Fiji beat Scotland 31-12, Australia easily defeated South Africa 38-0 and New Zealand overcame Canada 45-07.