Navy SC on top
by Ranjan Anandappa
 A last ten minutes blitz by the Navy put them in line for the Caltex
'A' division League title when they beat a determined Havelock outfit by
35 points (3 goals, 1 try, 2 penalties and a drop goal) to 19 (1 goal, 4
penalties) win in a key rugger match at Havelock Park yesterday.
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Sumedha Malawana of Navy is tackled by Havelocks Paula
Talaka as Yositha Rajapaksa rushes in for support in
yesterday’s Havelocks versus Navy Caltex A division second
round match at Havelock park. |
If Navy had dominated the first half it was Havelocks who came back
fighting in the second half to put the game on even keel. Ten minutes
before the long whistle Havelocks did well to concede a two point lead
to the sailors (21-19), but the sailors produce something spectacular
during the dying stage of the game when scrum half Pushpakumara broke
through to send Chula Susantha sprawling over and M. Afzal intercepting
a pass covered good ground to run unchallenged to seal the game in
favour of the sailors.
Havelocks opened scoring in the second minute when Ajmad Buksh put
over an easy penalty. Navy initially played with their forwards but
their backs gave admirable support to form a lethal combination. But
Ajmad Buksh fired over his second penalty to give the home team a 6-0
lead.
In the twelfth minute Dev Anand made no mistake with a drop kick and
the Navy reduced the deficit 3-6.Revived by the drop kick Navy got their
act together and a three quarter move initiated by Dev Anand sent Chula
Susantha to touch down and Dev Anand who is in good kicking form gave
the extra points.
Dev Anand's unerring kicking gave Navy a 13/6 lead. Navy lost the
services of kicker Dev Anand through injury half way. Ajmad Buksh missed
a penalty for Havelocks,but Dev Anand was right on target firing over a
45 meter kick. The sailors extended their lead 21-6 when scrum half
Pushpakumara and hooker Yoshitha Rajapaksa combined well to touch down
for an unconverted try.
Ajmad Buksh put over a penalty almost half the distance of the rugby
field and the scores at lemons were 21-9. On resumption Havelocks came
back fighting, they were awarded two penalties Buksh missed the first
and made no mistake with the second.
The Havies playing with more understanding drove into rucks and mauls
and finally touched down through their forwards play when Anurudha
Willawara fell over and Buksh added the extra points to make the score
19-21. But during the last ten minutes of play the sailors produced
something special to touch down twice to clinch the match in their
favour.
Referee: Charitha Kodagoda
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