Cops down Havies, second time in single season
Police's Fijian recruit Emosi Vunivosa played a key role in handing Havelocks the second defeat from two meetings in a single season - Pic by Amila Gamage
Last year’s Dialog Rugby League runners-up Havelocks SC, were forced to face agony by the rejuvenated Police SC, who defeated them for the second time this season 34-28 at Police Park yesterday. Unlike the first round game between the same two opponents, the losers managed to cut down the margin, yet time ran out for Havies, who suffered their fourth defeat this season.
The Cops outsmarted the Havies with five tries, three conversions and a penalty, while the Park Club almost came close to recording a stunning win, not for their own mishap, with a tally of three tries, two conversions and three penalties.
With this win Police stormed into the second spot of the Dialog Rugby League, after a spirited first half where they were slightly trailed by a point as the two teams went for ‘lemons’ with Havies leading 16-15.
It was Havelocks place kicker Santush Algama, who powered them to a morale boosting lead in the first half. Fullback Algama, who replaced captain Mithun Hapugoda in the crucial league encounter, was the tormentor of the home team in the first half.
It was Police who showed an attacking style of play during the first 15 minutes, during the period they scored two tries. They opened scoring in the 20th minute in the right corner flag, an unconverted try through centre Niroshan Silva.
Six minutes later, after a rolling maul, Rohan Peiris landed Police’s second try in the left corner and took the responsibility of converting it by himself.
Flanker Sawket Lahir, who played an inspiring role for the Havies in a losing cause, scored the first try for his team in the 27th minute, with Algama adding the extra points, yet Police were leading 12-7. Six minutes later, Algama put over a successful penalty on offer to cut down the deficit 10-12.
Shortly afterwards, in the 29th minute, Police placekicker Peiris put over a 20-metre penalty to increase the home team’s lead 15-10.
But their joy was kept short by Havies fullback Algama, who changed the shape of the first half, by scoring to two splendid back-to-back penalties, which gave his team a slender 16-15 lead at the halftime break.
But the Cops were unwilling to let down their second chance to beat the same team in a year, and evidently they were fighting harder than usual. Three quarter Primesh Danushka landed Police’s first try after the turnaround in the 45th minute, and with Peiris’ conversion they regained the lead 22-16.
Following this scrumhalf Suranga Kasun scored an unconverted try for the Cops, while adding two more before the final whistle to reach 34. Havies fought hard to retaliate and they were just short of just 14 points from recording a thrilling one-point victory, if they had the will.
They managed to score a converted try following a rolling maul, were 28 points and had a lifeline of five minutes before to score another. Havies were on course, but made a serious and silly blunder to give away the grip to the Cops, who held it on until the final whistle.