News Article

Unlucky India Suffers Back To Back Defeats Against Tough Opposition.

10/06/2006

Malaysia 61-20 India in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia beat India 61-20 in a hard-fought match played in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia started brightly in the fine weather and in front of the generous KL crowd battled to a 28-8 half time lead.

The second half brought 33 more points to Malaysia, who kept up their pace and momentum, their back line in particular causing damage.

India's heavy pack did manage two successful push-over tries towards the end of the match but the home side held out for the comfortable win.

India have a chance to quickly put things right when they take on Thailand in Bangkok on Wednesday 7 June. On the same day Pakistan play Guam in Manila and Kazakhstan face Singapore in Singapore on 8 June.

The 2006 Asian Nations Series continues its busy schedule up until the beginning of July 2006.

Thailand 50-28 India in Bangkok

The historic first meeting on a rugby pitch between Thailand and India  kicked off at Bangkok’s Police Stadium in the searing heat of a balmy Thai afternoon and ultimately brought well-deserved win for the side playing at home.

Thailand scored first through a well taken try by fly half Phairot Sumamon to lead 5-0 but India hit back within four minutes after a rampaging 22-metre run through three tackles by flanker Puneeth Kqishnamort to score the first of his two tries in the game. In so doing, he scattered the snoozing stray dogs in the in-goal area, who resumed their slumber to watch Indian fly half, Emil Vartazrian, slot the touch line conversion, his first of 15 points kicked in the game in an impressive outing with the boot.

The first half raced by as both sides interchanged scores, with the lighter Thai forwards doing well to cope with India’s heavier pack. Vartazrian kept India in touching distance, despite two classy tries by Thai right wing Pichit Yingcharoen, the second seeing him round his opposite number with ease in a move as ominous as the black storm clouds now forming in the distance behind India’s posts. A penalty by Vartazrian on 40 minutes took India to a well earned 21-19 lead at half time.

The storm clouds brought a welcome drop in temperature during the break, which would surely benefit India and their trio of forwards from the English midlands. However, Thailand now had a stiff breeze behind them and one sensed that, given the ding-dong nature of the first half, if either side could edge more than three scores ahead, it might be too much for the losing side to make up.

And so it proved. Thailand immediately signaled their intentions to use the wind and their speedier backs by changing tactics and kicking behind the Indian back three, gambling on their speedsters chasing and benefiting from the unpredictable bounce on the hard pitch.

Yingcharoen scored his third try after five minutes with wing partner, Kitti Wangkania scoring eight minutes later, seeing Thailand take a 31-21 lead. Further tries by Captain and centre Tanyavit Kuasin, substitute Khanthipong Meepin and lock, Chaisak Piromkraipak took Thailand out of sight. It was a credit to India that their never say die attitude, also seen against Malaysia 48 hours earlier, meant that Stourbridge-based flanker, Timothy Wilkes, crashed over from short range for his late consolation try to make the final score 50-28.

Thailand now await Malaysia’s visit on 22 July, which Thailand must win by 20 points to win this ARFU triangular group, where the King’s Vashilalongkoin Cup will also be up for grabs. Meanwhile India head off into the sunset for one last night in Bangkok, which is sure to leave them with fond memories of their first ever tour to Asia.