MAS Holding and Access declared joint champs amidst drama

Both finalists Access Group A and Mas Holdings were declared joint champions of the 49th Mercantile Sevens concluded at Longdon Place as the two teams couldn’t be separated after 14 minutes as the game ended 12 all and then they played 10 minutes of sudden death extra time and six penalty kicks from 3 angles but no team could get over the line and as a result the trophy was shared.

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Srinath Sooriyabandara kick started the big finale but MAS Holdings had early opportunity to score but superb defensive work from Access and a knock forward from Thilina Wijesinghe prevented MAS scoring an early try.

It was end to end game as Access missed out a try by just inches but few minutes later a cheeky kick and chase by Janidu Dilshan was collected by him and a timely offload to Kevin Dixson ensured that they open the scoring in the dying embers of the first half. (Access 05 – 00 MAS)

Access commenced the second with superb team try running from their own 22-meter line as Sooriyabandara opened up space for Access as quick ball to Jason Dissanayake was good enough to find the white wash. (Access 12 – 00 MAS)

Gayan Weerathne came from the bench and made a huge impact as he went over the line to score an important try to keep MAS in the game. (Access 12 – 07 MAS)

Access were down to six as Naveen Henakankanamage went in to the naughty chair for a tip tackle as Sandun Hearth managed find the white wash in the corner to equalize the game in the stroke of full time  but the conversion from Thilina Wijesinghe had the distance but not the direction and the game went into extra time. (Access 12 – 12 MAS)

It was an eventful first half of extra time as both teams couldn’t score any points but had few opportunities to end the game as it moved into the second half of extra time. (Access 12 – 12 MAS)

The game was a humdinger as both teams didn’t score in ten minutes of extra time and the game moved to penalties as three drop kicks were awarded for both teams. (Access 12 – 12 MAS)

It was nerve cracking penalty shootout as the experienced players missed out on easy kicks but Thilina Wijesinghe gave everyone a heart attack as his kick hit the right upright and was unsuccessful. All six kicks were missed as the organizers declared both teams as joint champions.

• Player of the Match – Thilina Wijesinghe (MAS Holdings)
• Most outstanding player of tournament – Reeza Rafiedeen (MAS Holdings)

Final Result – Access Group A 12 – 12 MAS Holdings

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The Plate Final

John Keells dominated the proceeding early on but Dialog scored a counter attacking try when Amith Madushanka made a superb run but was brought down near line as Niroshan Fernando had the awareness to collect the ball and go over the line to open the scoring. Suranaga Kasun replied quickly as he managed to find the white wash just before the half breather.

Dialog increased their lead when Vimuthi Rahula had the presence of mind to make a grabber kick and he managed to collect his kick and scored the second try. Few phases later Nishon Perera scored another try from a superb short sprint to further enhance their lead.

John Keells didn’t give up on the game as two quick tries from Thilina Bandara and 

in the final play Hirantha Perera scored the match equalizing try in the corner but an absolute stunning conversion from the corner by Thilina Weerasinghe won the plate for JKH.

Full Time – John Keells Holdings 19 – 17 Dialog Axiata A

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The semi finals for cup/plate were worked off as the defending champions Access Group showed their experience against a strong Dialog Axiata A team where tries from Kavindu Perera , Richard Dharmapala , Jason Dissanayake and Tharinda Ratwatte ensured that they went to the final by winning the semis 24 points to 12 and for Dialog Axiata the try scoring was done by Niroshan Fernando.

In the other semi MAS holding humiliated John Keells A 33 points to 5 as the tries for MAS holding was scored by Riza Rafaideen, Anurdha Wilwara, Danush Dayan, Roshan Weerarathne and Thilina Wijesinghe.

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Bowl and Shield Finals

The finals of the shield and bowl segments were worked off as 3DH International thumped the uprising George Steuart outfit 31-10 to claim the shield segment while Brandix Intimates cliched the Bowl by defeating Access Group B team 33 points to 14.

Early on the day games began with the shield quarterfinals as George Stuart won their quarterfinal game by scoring a sudden death try as the score stood as 12 all at the end of 14 minutes as Pan Asia Bank finally went down 17 -12. NDB went past Virtusa 17-12 in another tightly contested game.

The new comers 3DH International comprehensively defeated Softlogic Holding who were unbeaten throughout the group stages 31-12 and the last semi final spot was booked by Dialog Axiata B as they ripped through Ceylon Tobacco 31-05.

In the Shield semis George Stuart defeated NDB Bank 10-7 and 3DH International sealed their final spot by defeating the much-fancied Dialog Axiata 35 points to 12.

In the bowl segment semi-finals Brandix Intimates won 24 – 12 against Sampath Bank and Access Group B team overcame a tight challenge from their arch rivals John Keells B 17-10.

>>Fixtures and Results<<

The Results of the games on DAY 03