Airmen scrape through Soldiers in scrappy game

Air Force recorded their second win of the SLR Club Rugby League Championship, overcoming an injury-hit Army unit by 12-5, maintaining their reputation as the dark horse of the competition, at Ratmalana yesterday. Taking total control of the game from the start, the Airmen led 12-0 at halftime and scored from two tries and a conversion. The Soldiers were able to take the slightest honour of the second half, during when they were able to score their solitary unconverted try of the game.

Both teams, unexpectedly were too cautious from the beginning and were unable to beat each other at any occasion. Despite the Airmen being reduced to 14 in the 19th minute, the Soldiers still were not in full force to take advantage or capitalise of the position.

Yet Air Force showed that they were in possession despite being a player less. After a forward’s march prop Parakrama Basnayake was able to touch down in the 23rd minute, and with flyhalf Gayantha Iddamalgoda’s conversion, Air Force took the lead 7-0. Four minutes later lock Anjula Hettiarachchi scored the second and final try for Air Force, which went unconverted.

This was all Air Force could do in terms of scoring as they led the halftime by 12-0. The Soldiers still failed to live up to their expectations as a fully dominative side they are known for even during the second half. Army centre Lasantha Kumara shown a yellow card in the 37th minute, yet it made very little difference on the game’s flow. However the Soldiers found solace for all their efforts with the try scored by centre Sudaraka Dikkumbura, which came on the brink of the full whistle.