Navy’s win over Havies assures them league title
The difference between snatching an opportunity from thin air and letting it slip into the same vast nothingness is as tiny as the moment in which both actions exist. This message was felt acutely by both Navy and Havelocks after the sailors edged to a 21 (1 goal, 1 try and 3 penalties) - 17 (1 goal, 2 tries) victory over Havelocks in a battle of attrition between the Dialog Rugby League ‘A’ Division’s two top dogs, at Welisara yesterday.
Havelocks had their chances, especially in the second half, but their profligacy and misjudgment was matched by Navy’s frugal defence and opportunistic offence. The play which best highlighted this fact came in the 16th minute of the second half, when an attempted clearance was smothered back towards, and eventually over, Havelocks’ try line.
The try-scorers for Navy were wingers Dinusha Fernando and No.8 Mateaki Kafatolu while Havelocks recorded their tries through flanker Sudarshana Muthuthanthri, flanker Shehan Pathirana and winger Sandun Herath.
With a game against the struggling Hambantota Sharks the only remaining fixture in Navy’s league campaign, the win essentially guarantees them this year’s title.
Navy opened the scoring in the 9th minute with an unconverted try from Fernando, which was quickly followed by a penalty from fullback Nuwan Hettiarachchi. Havies answered with an unconverted try from Muthuthanthri and quickly seized the initiative heading into halftime with a rolling maul which thrust Pathirana over the line.
Although Havies played the more aggressive of the two teams in the second half, they quickly found themselves trailing 11-10 after Hettiarachchi put through a penalty. They then further mired their ambitions with their clearance mishap, which Kafatolu converted into a try which Hettiarachchi embellished with two points.
Down 18-10, Havies responded with a goal from Herath off a quick tap which brought them to within one point, but that came on the stroke of fulltime, and was immediately met with a penalty from reserve Ilai Tinani, which acted as the death knell for Havelocks’ title aspirations.
The Sunday Times’ photographer was unable to capture the action because he was refused adequate access to the playing field due to the heightened security present at Welisara.
Referee Priyantha Gunaratne
Kandy SC down Upcountry Lions 34-13
Kandy SC turned in a polished performance to beat the Up Country Lions by 34 points (4 Goals, 2 Penalties) to 13 (1 Goal, 2 Penalties) in the Inter-Club rugby game played at Nawalapitiya yesterday. At the breather the scores remained deadlocked at 10 allAnuruddha Wilvara (2), Lasanga Perera (2) and Sanisoni (1) scored the tries for Kandy SC with skipper Roshan Weeraratne converting them in addition to putting over two penalties.
Kanchanayake Ramanayake scored the only try for Up Country which was converted by Nigel Ratwatte who also put over two penalties.
Referee: Dimithra Gunasekera. – (SJ)
CR defeat Air Force 36-13
CR and FC coasted to an easy 36 points to 13 win over Air Force in the first round match of the Dialog A Division Rugby League tournament encounter played at the Air Force ground in Ratmalana yesterday.
The Red Shirts having led 24-3 at lemons accumulated their points through three goals and three tries to the two tries and a penalty scored by the Airmen.