Once again Havelock SC managed to register another good win when they beat a fighting Police SC by 17 points (2 tries, 2 conversions, 1 penalty) to 15 (2 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty) in a Premier League rugby encounter at Havelock Park yesterday.
Havelocks went into the second half trailing by five points and got down to business as they scored just four minutes into the second half through a try by skipper Abdullah Faiz who went over off a rolling maul.
Samuel Maduwantha converted easily to take the lead for the first time.
Night time or floolit rugby unlike cricket does not appear to attract much spectators as a lone fan sits at an empty stand at the Havelocks versus Police SC match at Havelock Park yesterday.
Just a few minutes later Havelocks increased on their lead again through another rolling maul try by Azmir Fajudeen off a line-out.
Maduwantha converted again.
Police scored again in the 55th minute when fly half Naveen Kanishka dashed towards the goal line and when challenged passed over but the ball was tapped into the in-goal area by a Havies player and scrum half Premesh Danushka was first to fall on the loose ball.
The conversion was made by Yehan Bulathsinghalage and Police was behind by just two points.
That was all the scoring done during the second half.
Police lost a player through a red card for an illegal tackle made by Ramitha Himash.
It was Police who opened scoring after making a few forward moves and they succeeded by going over through their forwards. The ball was carried over the line with Deshan Fernando who had the ball in his arms. The conversion was missed by Kanishka.
Havelocks were reduced to 13 men with two of their players shown the yellow card.
This was followed by Havelocks who earned a penalty five minutes later and Samuel Maduwantha took the kick from nearly 40 metres out and found the target with his reliable kicking. With that Havelocks obtained three points. Police increased on their lead through another penalty put over by Kanishka who sent the ball over the cross bar from as far as 45 metres.
Gihan Yatawara refereed.
