Havies finish third after crushing CH
Havelocks secured the third position of the Cup segment of the SLR Nippon Paint Club Rugby League, after handing CH&FC a 28-11 defeat in their final week game played at the Royal College Sports Complex yesterday. The first half was a closely contested battle with both teams adopting a fast-paced approach as Havelocks held on to a slender 10-8 lead at halftime.
But a totally different style of play after the resumption saw them ending the game with a tally of three tries, two conversions and three penalties. CH&FC, who did most of their scoring during the first half, scored from an unconverted try and two penalties. Centre Sudesh Jayawickrama scored first for Havelocks in the 22nd minute, after they gained an early 3-0 lead through a penalty, which came in the fifth minute after CH scrumhalf Mohamed Afzal was shown a yellow card. The penalty was put over by fullback Samuel Maduwantha. With his conversion of the Jayawickrama try, Havies were in the lead by 10-0 through the halfway of the first half.
But they lost composure, allowing CH&FC to capitalise in quick sessions with a try from centre Janith Laksara in the 29th minute, followed by a penalty in the 34th minute by flyhalf Rohitha Rajapaksa. Havies were still in the lead by 10-8.
But CH could not get their act together despite Havies forward Christian de Lile was sin binned in the 44th minute. The only solace was a penalty that came in their way in the 49th minute, which Rajapaksa converted. Havies were awarded a penalty which Maduwantha put over with ease as the scores were 13-11
CH lost Dinesh Lakshan in the 58th minute, after which Havelocks responded with two tries in quick sessions. Janindu Fernando went over in the 61st minute, and with Maduwantha’s conversion they were well ahead by 20-11. Havies further expanded their lead to 25-11 in the 67th minute with an unconverted try off Chathura Dilshan.
Both teams were down to 14 men by the final phase of the game after Havies lost Sudesh Jayawickrama in the 71st minute and CH lost Janindu Dilshan in the 75th minute, as Maduwantha put over his third penalty of the game a minute later to give Havelocks a decent 28-11 win.