In what was expected to be a close contest of the Dialog Rugby League 2013 rugby tournament yesterday turned into a one sided affair when Havelocks SC outclassed Air Force with ease by 48 points to 8 in the match played at Havelock Park yesterday.
Havelocks surged into a comfortable 24-8 lead at the breather and made up their points through four goals and four tries to a try and a penalty by the Airmen.

In fact the way that the Air Force approached the game at the beginning a keenly contested game was in the cards but it was not to be as they went too fast and only succeeded in tiring themselves.

CR thrashed arch rivals CH at Royal Complex (above) while Havelocks outplayed the Airmen at Havelock Park. - Pix by Ranjith Perera

The home team on the other hand though being a bit shaky settled down in the latter stages of the first half as they accumulated their points at will and had the Airmen struggling for survival.

It was Air Force who made the first scoring through a penalty booted over by centre Asanga Perera but that was short-lived as the Havies went into the lead with winger Chamara Dabare going over for an unconverted try.

Air Force struck a few minutes later to take over the lead when second row Donald Frank intercepted a Havelock pass midway and sprinted over 45 metres for an unconverted try.

That was all that the Airmen were able achieve as the Havelocks forwards combined with effect as they posted three quick tries by their wingers Sandun Herath who went over for two and Thusitha Samaratilleke one of which two was converted by full back Mohamed Sheriff as the sides change with Havies well ahead in the lead 24-8.

The resumption saw Havelocks going into action in the second minute from a try by scrum half Mithun Hapugoda. They took control and ran circles around the Air Force defense to post three more tries.

Winger Herath went over for two and flanker Shehan Pathirana one while Sheriff and fly half Niroshan Fernando converting one each. Herath was the toast of the side as he ended up scoring four tries.

Referee – Dimithri Gunasekera
Navy continue their unbeaten
run in Inter club League

Navy Sports Club continued their winning form in the current Dialog Inter Club rugby tournament 2013-2014 when they got the better of Up Country Lions Sports Club by 24 Points (2 Tries, 1 Conversion, 4 Penalties) to 15 Points(2 Tries, 1 Conversion, 1 Penlty) in their rugby encounter which concluded at the Jayatilake Stadium in Nawalapitiya.

At the breather it was the home team Up Country Lions SC who were leading at 15-14.

For Navy SC two tries were scored by their Fijian Jole Autunaiagi. Nuwan Hettitarachchi who had a grand game put over four penalties with one of them ranging 60 meters distance.
For the home team tries were scored by skipper and scrum half Srinath Sooriyabandara and Mohamed Sheshan. Pera Gibbs was on target with a kick at goal and one more penalty conversion. For the loosing team Srinath Sooriyabandara had a super outing being omnipresent.

This was the second defeat for the Nawalapitiya side in their three outings.

Referee Priyantha Gunaratne – SJ

CR and FC rout CH and FC

CR&FC recorded the highest ever winning margin against traditional rivals CH&FC when they made a smacking 81-10 win at their Dialog Division ‘A’ club rugby match played at the Royal College Sports Complex.

CR’s thumping victory, which was enabled from a spree of 13 tries and three conversions, moved them closer to the Colonel Mathews Trophy which will be awarded to the eventual winner after the return game.

CR at the halftime by 47-3 as the game was stopped for seven minutes in the 38th minute due to bad light, heavy rain and lightning, reducing the pace of the game in the second half. CH scored a converted try and a penalty for their points and was totally outplayed in the game which was played at a neutral venue.

Laseli Va’a crossed the line twice, as Gayan Liyanage, Danushka Pushpakumara, Hasthika Bandaranayake, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Dushanth Lewke, Peter Simone, Rahul de Silva, Dinesh Lakshan, Heshan Gunaratne and Pitum Jayasinghe scored a try each. Rimzi Jamaldeen was responsible for the conversions. Shanaka Bandara posted the solitary try for CH as Nalaka Kumara added five points from his boots. – VP

Police down Sharks

Police Sports Club were declared winners in their Dialog Division ‘A’ club rugby match against Hambantota Sharks after the game was abandoned due to heavy rain and lightning at the Beliatta National ground.

When the game came to an abrupt halt at the end of the first half, Police held on to a close 12-9 lead and with further play unfeasible, the officials awarded them the win.

The Cops scored from two tries and a conversion while Hambantota Sharks, who are yet to record a win after two games in their debut season, scored from three penalties. Rasith Silva and Milinda Bandara posted a try each for the Cops as Arshad Jamaldeen made a conversion. Fai La’la put over the three penalties for the Sharks. – VP