Up Country Lions win

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

Army SC failed to live up to expectations as they were soundly beaten by the Up-Country Lions by 33 points (2 goals, 2 tries and 3 penalties) to 10 (a goal and a penalty) in their Dialog Clifford Club rugby quarter-final played at Havelock Park yesterday.

The winners led 20-3 at the half way mark. Rajitha Sansoni drew first blood for the up country team firing over a penalty but Army’s Upali Wickremasinghe got the equalizer.

Another penalty put over by Sansoni gave the Up Country team a 6-3 lead. The soldiers had the game under control till a short tap taken by scrum half Soysa sent Srinath Sooriyabandara over to score. Sansoni gave the extra points.

Sooriyabandara struck once again in succession to score, while Sansoni made no mistake with the kick which brought them the additional points (20-3).

Army reduced the deficit in the third minute after the breather through a try scored by Saliya Handapangoda. Upali Wickremasinghe made no mistake adding the extra points. In the second half the Up Country Lions scored two unconverted tries through Sajith Saranga and Teuite Taufui and a penalty put over by Sansoni.

Aaron Littlewood a Dubai based New Zealander refereed.