|
Clinch Dialog ‘A’ Division League title by beating
Kandy SC by 34-18 in decider:
Navy savour their finest moment on the rugby field
By Sajeewa Jayakody
|
Navy’s Lithu on his way to score a try with Saliya Kumara of
Kandy SC making a vain attempt to foil him. Lithu has more
support from his team mates skipper Rohitha Rajapaksa and
Namal Rajapaksa in their Dialog ‘A’ Division League rugby
match played at Welisara yesterday. Pic Susantha
Wijegunasekera.
|
Navy Sports Club led by dynamic third row forward Rohitha Rajapaksa
enjoyed their finest moment on the rugby field to clinch the Dialog ‘A’
Division League rugby title with a glorious 34 points (four goals, two
penalties) to 18 (three tries, one penalty) win over former champions
Kandy Sports Club in the decider played at Welisara yesterday after
slender 17-13 lead at the breather.
The Sailors who reentered the A Division rugby arena in 2009, after
the conclusion of the North-East war not only remain unbeaten with one
match to go, but during its five-year period in the ‘A’ Division League
performed magnifieciently to clinch the title to the joy of their
supporters.
|
Navy’s centre Mateaki Kafatolu runs into a tackle from Kandy
SC’s scrum half Roshan Weeraratne but has support from
flanker Yoshitha Rajapaksa in their Dialog ‘A’ Division
League rugby match played at Welisara, which Navy won 34-18.
Pic Susantha Wijegunasekara. |
It was Kandy SC who opened the scoring when winger Richard Dharmapala
fell over for an uncoverted try by the corner flag. Five minutes later,
the lads from Kandy increased their lead further when David Frank scored
by the corner flag. Scrum half Roshan Weeraratne missed the conversion
and Kandy were sitting pretty with a 10-nil lead.
In the 15th minute, Navy’s Nuwan Hettiarachchi put over an easy
15-metre penalty. Three minutes later, the Sailors equalized when
Mateaki Kafatolu scored under the post to give Nuwan Hettiarachchi an
easy kick at goal.
In the 24th minute of the first half, Kandy’s scrum half Roshan
Weeraratne put over a splendid penalty from 40-metres out.
Two minutes before the breather, the Sailors snatched the lead when
an attempted penalty kick by Nuwan Hettiarachchi struck the upright and
rebounded for the charging Navy winger Dinusha Fernando to collect and
score by the corner flag. Nuwan Hettiarachchi made a spectacular
conversion to give Navy a 17-13 lead at lemons.
In the third minute after the resumption, Navy centre Lithu powered
his way for 20 metres to touch down under the post. Nuwan Hettiarachchi
converted (24-13).
Four minutes later, Nuwan Hettiarachichi, who had a grand game, made
no mistake with a 25-metre penalty to make it 27-13.
In the 27th minute, the Sailors put the issue beyond doubt when fly
half Chanaka Chandimal received the ball from a maul and sneaked through
for try with Nuwan Hettiarachchi adding the extra points, the Sailors
led 34-13.
The lads from Kandy, scored the consolation try in the 32nd minute,
through their Number Eight Samisoni Faifita with Roshan Weeraratne
missing the conversion and the Sailors ran out as worthy champions with
a 34-18 win.
Referee: Taku from Japan
|
