Thailand v Chinese Taipei, Chinese Taipei beat Thailand 28-21 in an enthralling Asia Rugby Championship Division II encounter to take this year’s title.
With both sides having beaten India earlier this week, the winner of this match was always going to be crowned champions and the match did not disappoint.
Ranked several places than Thailand in the World Rugby rankings Chinese Taipei were the favourites heading into the match but the hosts made them work hard on a humid day in Pattaya.
Akarin Thitisakulvit gave the hosts the lead from a penalty but the first try came in the 19th minute when Che-Yu Sung crossed the whitewash.
Thailand hit back 10 minutes later to give themselves a 10-8 lead as Vatcharakorn Vorachate powered over.
Thitisakulvit added a second penalty to extend their lead further but on the stroke of half-time Chinese Taipei brought the match to within one point as Wei-Ming Ling scored their second try and take a 14-13 lead into the half-time oranges.
The hosts did not let up at all in the entire match however and once again took the lead as Sumet Thammaporn added their second try with 20 minutes left.
Wei-Ming Lin gave Taipei the lead once more, before a third Thitisakulvit penalty drew the scores level at 21-21 with 10 minutes to go.
It was heartbreak however for the hosts as once more Lin scored his second try of the half and a successful conversion from Chun-Hao Yeh secured the title win for Chinese Taipei.
