Havelock SC managed to finish the game in their favour beating Air Force SC by 30 points (5 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty) to 19 (2 tries, 3 penalties) in their inter-club Premier League rugby encounter played at Air Force ground in Ratmalana yesterday.
The game drawled out in a lack-lustre fashion with only three tries being scored in the second half as either team opted to use their heavy forwards to make the moves and bring on the points while their back division failed to impress as they lacked penetration.
Air Force scored just five minutes after the turn around through a penalty by Gayantha Iddamalgoda from just 20 metres out to take them just four points short of the Havies score of 18 points.
Thereafter, it was Havelocks who took the opportunity to go into the Airmen’s territory and use their heavy forwards to go over the line. They did this in the 49th minute when their number eight Chathura Dilshan came out from a scrum and forced his way over for a try.
Sandesh Jayawickrema took over the kicking duties but failed to convert.
Thereafter the game went through a dull period with the game slowing down and neither side able to add to their score.
Havelocks scored again only in the 78th minute when they made a series of forward ploys and on sending the ball out had full back Samuel Maduwantha joining the line who smartly spotted the openings and scythed his way over for a moral-boosting try.
He converted it himself and Havelocks increased on their score to an unreachable lead of over 15 points.
Air Force came back with their forwards into the Havies territory and was able to score a try by Parakrama Ratnayake. It was only their second try in the match.
The conversion was missed by Iddamalgoda and with that the final whistle was blown.
The first half saw both teams endeavouring to use their heavy forwards to plough into each other’s territory which they did quite successfully. This was what brought them the tries too with Havelocks taking the advantage to score as many as three tries.
Air Force opened the scoring in the second minute of the first half. They won a penalty and Gayantha Iddamalgoda successfully did the job from 23 metres out.
This was followed soon after three minutes later as Iddamalgoda was successful from 42 metres out to give them a six point lead. However, Havelocks used their heavy forwards from that point onwards and earned a penalty with Samuel Maduwantha kicking right to make it 3-6 at that point.
Havelocks scored their first try by skipper Abdullah Faiz who broke away from a rolling maul in the 18th minute followed by Sandesh Jayawickrema touching down.
Air Force scored next when they used a rolling maul off a line out and Pasindu Perera went over the goal line.
Havelocks winger Jayathu Rajaratne scored next.
With that try Havelocks took the scores to 18 points to 11 by Air Force which was the score at half time.
Ishanka Abeykoon refereed.
