Havelocks showcase their superior skills
A Havelocks players goes over for a try - Pic by Ranjith Perera
As expected, Havelocks showcased their superior skills in back division play to run out winners by 29 points (3 goals, 1 try. 1 penalty) to 5 (1 try) over the Air Force at Ratmalana.
It was by no means one way street. This is clear from the fact the winners could only score twice in the second half. This half was dominated by the losers, possession-wise. However, good ball which was never easy to come by, and had to be fought for, was criminally wasted by the Airmen who kept kicking down the ground and lost possession.
Thilina Bandara was outstanding in the lines out. The tall lock forward towered over the others to dominate the throw ins. But when the ball did come out to the backs, they couldn’t pierce the defence and their best laid plans came to naught.
The Havies back division was filled to overflowing with Sri Lanka players. And this made the difference. They were responsible for three of the four tries that the winners scored.
The Air Force held their opponents for seventeen minutes at the start of the game. In that time, Niroshan Fernando, the fly half, practiced a few ploys of deception – the scissor, the chip, the grubber. However, they all failed.
Then Niroshan Perera, the center, came round at the blind side to receive the ball from a scrum and shot through along the right wing to open the scoring. Dulaj Perera, whose kicking was almost flawless, added the points for a 7-0 lead.
The Airmen’s retaliation was immediate. Thilina Bandara charged down an attempted clearance and fell over. This wasn’t converted (7-5).
Lock Sharo Fernando was next to score. He picked up from about twenty yards out and touched down for Dulaj Perera to add the two points.
A penalty, dead centre 40 yards out was converted by Dulaj for a half-time lead of 17-5.
Eight minutes after the restart, the Havies took a short tap on the line and swung the ball about. Hirantha Perera seized the opportunity to pierce the defence, by selling a dummy, and going over. This failed conversion blotted Perera’s copy book.
The Airmen did their best to push the Havies back when they threatened the goal-line. The winners tried to go over for a push-over try but the Air Force defence held. When brawn didn’t work, brain did the trick. Fly half Niroshan Fernando cut through the defence for the Havies final try which was goaled by Perera.
The Airmen need not be disheartened as they were up against a side that had more experience and talent. However, the attacking play of their backs has to be brushed up. As for the forwards, they played hard and performed as one unit. All in all, the team did not lie down and die.
Champion performance by Kandy SC
Kandy SC gave a champion performance to turn the heat on the CH and trounce them by 96 points to nil at Nittawela. The margin was even more comprehensive than last year’s.
Fourteen tries were scored in all, and thirteen were converted. One try was converted by Tilina Weerasinghe, while Arshad Jamaldeen put over twelve.
Centre Dhanushka Ranjan playing his first game for his new club led the splurge by scoring four times. Richard Dharmapala touched down twice.
Tharindu Chaturanga, Suhiru Anthony, Sashika Jayawardena, Roshan Weeraratne, Arshad Jamaldeen, Kanchana Ramanayake, Tilina Wijesinghe and Ali Yakoob went over once.
Raferee – Irshad Cader.