Sailors stay on course
Navy did all right to beat Police - Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
Navy Sports Club seized opportunities that came in their way to record a resounding 31-24 win against Police Sports Club in their first round match of the Dialog Rugby League at Welisara yesterday.
The Sailors, having led the first half by 24-10, scored from five tries and three conversions against three converted tries and a penalty. Navy kicked under a slight drizzle in a soggy ground condition but scored immediately off the kick off, as they appeared to be under the influence of classical conditioning following the stimulus of the last two weeks running into the third. Police were in the Navy half for most of the second half and were able to pin the sailors to a 24-all score by the 30th minute of the second half.
Police pressed Navy for most of the second half but were bundled out of a victory with some unstructured play that was common to both teams. Navy started off immediately following the kickoff with flanker Adeesha Weeratunga smothered an attempted Police clearance and scored for Navy to lead 5-0.
In the fourth minute a yellow card was shown to Police lock Romesh Acharige for repeated offside at the break down. With 14 men Police scored a try in the 11th minute through fullback Kasun Suranga. This was converted by flyhalf Sandesh Jayawickrema and Police led 7-5. Jayawickrama converted a penalty in the 16th minute to take the score to 10-7 in favour of Police. A yellow card followed the whistle of referee Priya Suranga in the 20th minute to forward Lahiru Pavithra of Police for being deliberately offside at the break down.
Navy then scored through fullback Thilina Wijesinghe in the 17th minute and converted himself to take the lead at 17-7. Navy scored again in the 26th minute through centre Lahiru Hearth to stretch the lead for Navy 24-7.
In the 27th minute, a penalty kicked right by flyhalf Jayawickrema for Police made the scores 24-10. In the 37th minute Navy lock Gaveen Perera was sent to recover in the bin for taking the man in the air.
On resumption Police scored in the third minute through scrum half Harshan Gomes and flyhalf Jayawickrema converted. Scores Police 17 – Navy 24. In the seventh minute centre Mushin Faleel was shown the way to the chair to cool off after a dangerous tackle. Once again the yellow was shown in the 26th minute to Navy flyhalf Mohamed Absal being offside at the break. This was a common occurrence and the players were lucky not to be shown the red.
Police centre Lahiru Gurusinghe scored in the 29th minute and Jayawickrema converted from a difficult angle and the ball bounced right off the cross bar to level scores at 24-all. Police attacked into Navy territory and when in flight in the 35th minute set off a forward pass inside the 22 and were made to retreat.
In the 38th minute Navy were awarded a penalty within kicking range but fullback Weerasinghe fluffed. Navy however scored in injury time as hooker Dulanjana Wijesekera went over for Weerasinghe to convert and take the lead 31-24. Navy worked in the dying stages and the ball and a kick that as too deep was touched down by Police who were eager to take the 22 drop out but an obstruction by Navy centre Lahiru Herath earned him a yellow card. It appears that Navy are poised to be in the first three at the end of the first round but need to wake up after the half time lullaby.