Havelocks book Cops with surprise second half attack
Havelocks produced a spirited show in the second half to turn tables and beat a Police outfit that started off enterprisingly well in the first half, in their first round game of the Dialog Sponsored ‘A’ Division League rugby encounter at Police Park yesterday.
Havelocks won the match eventually 44-28 scoring as many as six tries as fly half Dulaj Perera made some superb touchline conversions to three of the tries besides one in front of the posts.
A Cop desperately tries to stall a rampaging Havies player - Pic by Ranjith Perera
Havelocks had enough ball to score and finish off with a bigger margin but relaxed a bit with the contest well secured as they even opted to take a penalty inches away from touch down in front of the posts in the dying moments of the game.
Police started off well as if they meant business in the first half when their Fijian centre Apisai Naqaliva crossed the line to score under the post for Samantha Lakshan to convert.
But Havelocks got their act right after several unsuccessful forays as prop Dushmantha Priyadharshana used his weight to good advantage to crash over the line to score.
Dulaj Perera made the conversion to go with a penalty as Havelocks took the lead for the first time 10-3.
Havelocks had more joy come their way when skipper and flanker Sudharshan Muthuthantri really led from the front to cross the line and score after his team won the ball from a line-out with Dulaj Perera converting to make the scores 17-7.
But if Havelocks thought they were well and truly in the game it happened the other way around as Police came back strongly with two tries, one from Naqaliva who carried a defender on his way to score under the post and the next from winger Heshan Goonaratne.
Both tries were converted by Samantha Lakshan as Police took the lead 21-17.
Minutes later Havelocks were left trailing 17-28 when Naqaliva went over for another try for Samantha Lakshan to convert.
But Police blew up their secured lead that probably cost them the match when they let Havelocks score and reduce the margin 28-22 when a fast running winger Mithun Hapugoda sprinted some 20 metres almost unchallenged to score by the left corner flag. Dulaj Perera missed the conversion.
The second half started off well for Havelocks as winger Sandun Herath got the proceedings going when he passed the ball for full back Mohamed Sheriff to cross the line and score for Dulaj Perera to convert as they took the lead 29-28.
Spurred on by the try Havelocks scored two more tries in the second half to seal the result as Police scored none.
Herath himself scored one try followed by flanker Shehan Pathirane also touching down while Dulaj Perera converted one try and put over a final minute penalty to make the scores 44-28.
Both sides scored a bonus point for scoring four or more tries.
Referee: Anura Rankothge