Air Force had themselves to blame for making too many mistakes and one that can be called a very bad stage of play when Akash Madushanka was yellow carded for a dangerous spear tackle on Police winger Matheesha Perera as they lost their inter club league rugby match 22-34 at Police Park Bambalapitiya yesterday.
Police eventually took advantage of the lapses on the part of the visitors and scored five tries, three of which were converted along with a penalty while Air Force replied with three tries, converting two and putting over one penalty.
Air Force spilled the ball on several occasions that gave away possession to Police who made use of it and scored tries when the ball should have been taken forward by them.
The scores at half time gave Police a slender 14 points to 10 lead.
Air Force opened scoring when Gayantha Iddamalgoda put over a penalty for not releasing the ball in the loose.
Police opened scoring in the 16th minute when they won a line out and did the rolling maul for Deshan Fernando to go over the line.
Shaveen Jayawardena put over the conversion.
Police scored again through a three quarter move that had Vihanga Pivithuru going over the line and Jayawardena converted for a 14-3 lead.
But just before half time Air Force scored through a rolling maul with Parakrama Ratnayake going over the line.
Iddamalgoda made certain of the conversion to give them 10 points.
After the turn around it was all Police who maintained a fast pace in the game to take complete control and also penetrated the Air Force defence quite easily.
They scored when the Air Force players dropped the ball and Matheesha Perera collected the ball and raced hard to score a try.
Shaveen Jayawardena made the conversion.
Police scored again three minutes later when Akash Madushanka went over by the corner flag for an unconverted try.
Air Force scored five minutes later when Parakrama Ratnayake carried the ball off a rolling maul. Iddamalgoda made the conversion to give them 17 points.
Police scored next when Prince Chamara put over a penalty for the dangerous tackle on Matheesha.
Air Force scored in the 75th minute when Hasindu Premasiri carried the ball over off a rolling maul.
Nadun Gunasekera failed to make the conversion.
Police finished off in style when Sameera Jayasinghe crossed the line near the corner flag.
Chamara failed to convert but Police had increased their score to 34 points with the final whistle.
Raveen Alexander refereed.
