Navy gun down Army 29-14 at Ratmalana
A spirited Navy Sports Club recorded their second successive victory when they comfortably beat Army Sports Club 29-14 in their Dialog Inter-club League Rugby Tournament match played at Ratmalana yesterday.
The Sailors, collected their points through three goals, one try and a penalty while limiting their opponents to two goals.the scores read 26-14 at half time.
But it was Army SC who drew first blood as early as in the fourth minute as Aravinda Karunarathna squeezed himself through the Navy SC defence in a rolling maul to touchdown. Gayan Salinda added the extras.
Mohamed Abzal, started the Navy SC marauding 10 minutes later as the fly half collected the ball from Mushin Faleel before touching down.
Chathura Senevirathne, playing the full back role instead of Thilina Weerasinghe, made the conversion, tying the scores at 7-all.
Radeesha Senevirathne got the ball dangerously close to the try-line and taking advantage,
Navy SC Skipper Richie Dharmapala sneaked through the error-prone Army SC defence to touchdown seven minutes later and to amend the scores to 12-7.
Faleel was the provider once again when his pass was collected by Radeesha in a quick team play following a ‘ruck’ in the 27th minute.the extras were added making the scores 19-7.
Army SC were rewarded for their continuous attempts when flanker Pushpakumara Samarahewa got over the line after collecting an offload from Salinda, changing the scores to
19-14. Navy SC ensured a bonus point later when Radeesha scored an easy try, his second try of the evening, before Referee Ishanka Abeykoon blew the half time whistle.
In the second half, both teams were unable to alter the score board although plenty of opportunities were wasted, especially by the trailing Army SC outfit.
However, on the verge of full time, Senevirathne added three points as he bisected the poles with ease through a penalty, amending the scores to 29-14.