Havelocks came out with a superb display of power play to trounce Sri Lions by 43 points (7 tries, 4 conversions) to 13 (2 tries, 1 penalty) in their inter-club league rugby encounter at Havelock Park yesterday.
Havies demonstrated to the new comers Sri Lions what it would be like not to tackle opponents effectively and move the ball around to find the openings.
Sri Lions made a few constructive moves early in the second half to open the scoring in the 47th minute. They made a series of moves after winning the mauls and scored a try by Prasad Madushanka who barged over.
Havelocks scored next through another rolling maul and hooker Azmir Fajudeen scored his third try of the match in the 54th minute.
Play continued to change hands for some time and Sri Lions scored next in the 60th minute when they worked their forwards and Prasad Madushanka went over the line for his second try in the match.
Havelocks made the advances again and in the 71st minute winger Harusha Perera went over to their seventh try.
Coming into the game late Samuel Maduwantha put over the conversion and Havelocks increased their lead by 20 points.
Havelocks dominated the first half with their power play using their heavier forwards and clinical moves to keep possession to their advantage. This gave them the tries just for the taking as they scored as many as five tries during this period.
Havelocks opened scoring in just the fifth minute of play as they opened out the game for winger Sudesh Jayawickrema to go over the line and his brother Sandesh put over the conversion.
Sri Lions scored next in the ninth minute when a Havelocks player was spotted holding on to the ball in a maul as Kevin Dixon took the kick at goal and put over the penalty.
But thereafter it was all Havelocks who dominated with an abundance of possession and scored through winger Jayanthu Rajaratne that went unconverted.
Their next try was scored by prop forward Shehan Silva who forced his way over off a maul followed by hooker Azmir Fajudeen who used his knowledge to go over the line for two tries off rolling mauls.
Both tries were converted by Sandesh Jayawickrema as Havelocks took a comprehensive lead by 31 points to 3 at half time.
Lasantha Nilaweera refereed
