New Zealand Under-85kg rugby side beat Sri Lanka 27-16 in Colombo

New Zealand Under-85kg halfback Ned Milne takes on the the Sri Lanka Tuskers line in the opening match in Colombo. Photo / Lahiru Harshana

The New Zealand Under-85kg men’s rugby side have held off a much-improved Sri Lanka in Colombo, winning a hard-fought match 27-16.

After dominating the two fixtures last year, the weight-grade side were confronted with an extremely physical Tuskers outfit, who were determined to use their considerable size advantage and attack in the most direct way possible.

It paid dividends with Akash Madushanka crashing over for the first try, after a massive scrum won the home side a penalty and field position. However, the New Zealanders managed to hit back immediately through prop Simon Sia, who pounced on a charged-down kick to score.

From there, it became a fitting war of attrition on Anzac Day. Despite the U85kg grade being associated with free-flowing rugby, space was at a premium against the hard-tackling Sri Lankans. So the New Zealanders had to take a direct route of their own off a well-earned penalty and lineout, with No 8 Pasia Asiata driven over for a lineout drive.

Janidu Dilshan crossed to close the gap with a well-taken try in the corner for the home side, with the big crowd very much realising this was a far more fired-up team than the one that convincingly lost both games last year. Then Sri Lanka looked to have snatched the lead with a try on the stroke of halftime; however, it was called back for a forward pass.

The second half saw the crucial injection of the New Zealand bench, with lock Jack Laity and front-row replacements Tom Rowland and Matt Treeby making immediate differences at set piece. However, the impact of Suji Vosikata was arguably the game-changing factor, with the Fijian-born loose forward absolutely outstanding on both sides of the ball.

Vosikata’s line-breaking ability opened up the tight contest into one that saw the New Zealanders edge out to a six-point lead through the boot of skipper Jarred Percival. It was a crucial margin because for all their passion and intensity, the Sri Lankans were finding it increasingly difficult to gain any sort of meaningful field position.

Treeby sealed the win with a cheeky try off a quick lineout try in the last 10 minutes. While the scoreline looked comfortable, the sheer physical exertion of playing in 30C heat and 90% humidity made it anything but.

New Zealand coach Ben Sinnamon said that while the side were pleased with the win, they must improve before next weekend’s next game.

“The Tuskers really showed how much they wanted it tonight, their physicality and pressure was outstanding. However, we backed our systems in some really trying conditions.”

Discipline was an issue for both teams, with Dilshan needlessly yellow-carded when he stomped on Percival after scoring. Asiata was unlucky when his attempted tackle slipped high on a Sri Lankan ball-carrier.

Percival described the match as a “classic ding-dong battle”.

“Credit to the Sri Lankans, they really brought it to us in the first half. I’m really proud of the way we problem-solved on the go and the boys who came off the bench, they were crucial.”

The two sides now head to Kandy for the second match of the tour.

New Zealand Under-85kg 27 (Simon Sia, Pasia Asiata, Matt Treeby tries; Taine Cordell-Hull 3 pen, con; Jarred Percival pen, con)

Sri Lanka 16 (Akash Madusanka, Janidu Dilshan tries; Thenuka Nanayakkara 2 pen)

HT: 16-13