Havies ground Airmen in bland game
After a scrappy start Havelocks Sports Club progressively gained their usual rhythm to secure a 30-19 win against Air Force SC at Ratmalana, in their second week clash yesterday, but it could be termed as one of their rare and unimpressive wins in the recent times.
Rated as a potential side to lift the SLR-Mastercard Club Rugby League 2024, the Havies were unusually unimposing despite recording a bonus point win with a tally of five tries, a conversion and a penalty. Trailing almost up until the halfway mark of the first half, and leading the halftime by 18-11, the game could have turned into a carnage, if not for the early pressure applied by the Airmen, who collected their points through two unconverted tries and two penalties.
Surprising from the first whistle, the Airmen launched an onslaught from which they raked in points from two successful penalties, put over in the fourth and sixth by playmaker and centre Gayantha Iddamalgoda to five the host an early 6-0 lead.
Despite constant pressure, Havies were optimistic not to concede, and they put up their first points from a penalty in the 11th minute by centre Samuel Maduwantha to trail by 3-6. For the first time in the game, Havies managed to turn tables on Air Force and return the pressure they were forced to swallow, until prop Abdullah Faiz crossed over to score an unconverted try and take the lead 8-6. They thwarted the pressure mounted by the Airmen, with flyhalf Sandesh Jayawickrama’s try in the 23rd minute as Havelocks expanded the lead to 13-6.
But the hosts, who were adamant to force their opponents fall victim to their tactics, were paid off with a brilliantly executed forward move that resulted in prop Manuka Perera landing an unconverted try in the 30th minute. Yet, with a two-point advantage of 13-11, Havelocks were keen to play their usual style, and the indication was provided with an unconverted try from winger Jayathu Rajaratne in the 35th minute, as they expanded the lead to 18-11 up until the halftime.
After the resumption both teams were equally fighting for opportunities, as Air Force successfully grabbed a penalty in the 46th minute with Iddamalgoda putting over his third kick to have his team close behind at 14-18. Three minutes apart Havies No.8 Chathura Dilshan breached the entire Air Force defence to last his team’s fourth try, which went unconverted, and the lead extended to 23-14.
Despite Havies flanker being shown a yellow card in the 56th minute, Air Force failed to breach their tight defence, and in return the visitors landed a stunning try in the 78th minute through centre Maduwantha, who made a successful conversion after four previous attempts. With Havies leading at 30-14, and minutes away from the final whistle, the Airmen returned to their form as at the beginning to finish off with an unconverted try from hooker Parakrama Ratnayake.