Taiwan narrowly lost to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their third and final game of the Asian Rugby Championship Division 2 series at Kuala Lumpur’s MBPJ Stadium yesterday.
UAE took an early lead through an unconverted try to center Michael Botha, but Taiwan hit back with two tries to flanker Lin Wei-ming and inside center Chang Lun-wei to lead by 12-8 at halftime, with fullback Hsueh Yuan-che kicking a conversion for Taiwan and UAE adding a penalty.
UAE prop Christopher Jones-Griffiths touched down with 21 minutes remaining in the second half and they added another penalty to put them five points ahead.
Photo courtesy of the Asian Rugby Football Union and ESA
Taiwan could not find a way to hit back throughout the final quarter, finally succumbing 16-12.
Chinese Taipei Rugby Football Union chairman Chou Tien-hsing said the team put in a 100 percent effort over the week-long competition, which also involved Thailand, who Taiwan beat, and the hosts, Malaysia, who went through undefeated.
“We performed well overall to make the top three and keep our Division 2 status,” Chou said. “We will redouble our efforts and will come back to this tournament stronger in the coming years.”
Photo courtesy of the Asian Rugby Football Union and ESA
He also called on Taiwanese sporting authorities to attach importance to the development of rugby in the nation.
“Taiwan used to be among the best in Asia,” he said. “With rugby not being part of the Asian Games and the Olympics, the government reduced funding.”
“I hope to see rugby receive the attention it deserves and be promoted more in Taiwan,” he added.
In the late match, Malaysia beat Thailand 53 -7 after leading 27-7 at halftime.
Malaysia captain Nyuk Fah praised the team for keeping their nerve in the deciding match.
“This win means so much to us, especially with the teams we played here being much stronger than last season,” Nyuk Fah said, according to Malaysian paper the New Strait Times.
“We came into this match as favorites and with it came a lot of pressure, but the boys did well to play a tight game and did not allow the Thais to use their pace, which is their main weapon,” he said.
“We will look to build on this performance, as the teams competing in Division 1 next year will be a lot tougher,” he added.
Malaysia topped the tournament and earned promotion to the Asia Rugby Championship with 17 points, UAE were second with 12, Taiwan third with 7 and Thailand got 1 point.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong snatched an away win 38-37 over 13-man South Korea in Incheon yesterday to keep alive their hopes of finishing second in the Asia Rugby Championship.
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