Havelocks ward off Air Force scare to record thrilling win
Havelocks SC had to live through episodes of horror before turning down a possible Air Force win as they recorded a narrow 36-35 win in a thrilling SLR Nippon Paint Club Rugby League game played at Ratmalana yesterday.
Havelocks was cruising to gain a lead of 19-6 at halftime, and completed with a tally of five tries, four conversions and a penalty before sealing a one-point win. The Airmen were late to retaliate, but managed to score from three tries, two conversions and three penalties in addition to a penalty try.
Air Force opened scoring within the fourth minute off a penalty from scrumhalf Nuwan Perera, but the lead was shortlived only up until the eighth minute, until lock Shehan Dias braced a try. With the conversion from flyhalf Sandesh Jayawickrama on target Havelocks led 7-3. They expanded the lead with another try in the 21st minute by the handyman scrumhalf Mithun Hapugoda, and Jayawickrama’s conversion pushed Havelocks’ lead to 14-3.
The very next minute Air Force lost lock Sashika Fernando for a yellow card offence. Yet the Airmen were on the offence and eventually ended up earning a penalty, which was put over by scrumhalf Perera, as the deficit was cut down to 6-14. Havies forward Fartham Fazi was shown a yellow card in the 33rd minute, yet the visitors grooved through a score an unconverted try off forward Dinupa Seneviratne. With that Havelocks took the halftime with a 19-6 lead.
Soon after the resumption Air Force was on the attack and eventually was rewarded with a penalty, which Perera put over, and forward Parakrama Ratnayake added the icing with an unconverted try. But the very next minute Havelocks retaliated with a try from winger Randitha Warnapura, which was converted by Jayawickrama and they led by 26-14.
This was the phase when the Airmen made a surprise attack – first culminating with a try from winger Ramitha de Silva in the 52nd minute, followed by the conversion from Perera. Two minutes later Havies flanker Senal Deelaka was handed a yellow card, following with a penalty try being awarded to Air Force, led 28-26.
Havies was forced to play with 13 men for nearly five minutes soon after forward Dinupa Seneviratne was sent out with a yellow card. But as they regrouped Havies responded with a penalty from Jayawickrama in the 64th minute, followed by a try from hooker Azmeer Fajudeen and a conversion from Jayawickrama five minute later to expand the lead 36-28.
But Havies were pushed down when their No.8 Christian De Line was shown a yellow card in the 73rd minute, despite all their efforts. It was when centre Gayantha Iddamalgoda stormed to score a try, which gave Perera an easy conversion to cut down the deficit by a point 35-36. But Havelocks managed to maintain their stronghold for the next five minutes and seal a deserving win.