Thu | Jan 9, 2025

CG2022 | Crocs finish 13th, earn two wins to close

Published:Sunday | July 31, 2022 | 5:48 PM
Ashley Simon Brian Smith of Team Jamaica is tackled by Amalul Hazim Nasarrudin of Team Malaysia during a Men's 13-16 semi-final rugby sevens match on day three of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Coventry Stadium in Coventry, England on Sunday.
Courtesy of birmingham2022.com
Ashley Simon Brian Smith of Team Jamaica is tackled by Amalul Hazim Nasarrudin of Team Malaysia during a Men's 13-16 semi-final rugby sevens match on day three of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Coventry Stadium in Coventry, England on Sunday.

Jamaica’s Rugby Sevens team, The Crocs, finished their Commonwealth Games journey with two victories for 13th place in the competition.

The Crocs, after being demolished in their first three outings, recovered to first beat Malaysia 28-7 in the men’s 13-16 semi-final, before getting the better of Sri Lanka, 26-24, in the playoff for 13th.

The Crocs had begun their campaign on Friday with a 62-0 demolition at the hands of Australia, before an equally resounding 45-0 blanking from Kenya.

Yesterday, Uganda were not very kind to the Jamacans either with a 40-0 win, before England scored 45 points but allowed the Crocs their first points of the competition, the game ending 45-7.

But that was yesterday, today, the Crocs enjoyed better fortunes, smashing Malaysia through the tries of Tyler Bush and Fabion Jeru Turner. Mason Caton-Brown was also in a good mood, scoring two tries to account for the Jamaicans’ 28 points. Amalul Hazim Nasarrudin had one try in the second half for Malaysia.

That game was to put the Jamaicans into the playoffs for the 13th position, a game against Sri Lanka.

The Crocs got off to the worst possible start, with Sri Lanka scoring the first try of the game, but would recover to end the half level.

The second half was also close, with the Sri Lankans scoring two tries just as they did in the first. The Crocs matched the Sri Lankan effort but had two conversions from Lucas Roy-Smith that turned the game in their favour.

Caton-Brown, for the second time today, had two tries in the game, while there was a try each for Oshane Edie and Ashley Simon Brian Smith.

All four tries from the Sri Lankans came different persons, with Mithun Hapusgoda, Ravindu Hettiarachchi, Nigel Ratwatte, and Buddhima Nanayakkara Kudachchige getting in on the action.

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