Havies rally to down Police

by Ranjan Anandappa

In an eventful second half, Havelocks got the better of a determined Police outfit to beat them by 27 points (three goals and two penalties) to 24 (three goals and one penalty) in their second round Dialog inter club League rugby encounter played at Police Park yesterday.

Havelocks were on the move more than their opponents during the initial half of the game. They won a lot of possession in the scrums and through their jumpers in the line-outs, but were unable to score due to lack of cohesion.

Their three-quarter line was in disarray and a trifle slow.

But Police in their limited forays into the Havies territory drew first blood through their Number Eight Radeesha Seneviratne with Reza Mubarak adding the extra points to the try.

Police led 7-0 at lemons.

Soon after the turnaround Havies touched down off a maul when Lasinda Karunatilleke crashed through to score under the post and Rimzi Jamaldeen made no mistake with the conversion.

With the scores on par 7-7 Havies struck in rapid succession when hooker Prasad Madusanka broke off from a maul and sprinted some 40 meters to score under the post for Rimzi Jamaldeen to put over the easy conversion.

Minutes later Police hit back in similar fashion when Udara Chanaka intercepting a pass covered good ground to touch down.

Full back Reza Mubarak added the extra points and once again the scores were equal 14-14.

Thereafter it was an exhibition of kicking with Rimzi Jamaldeen firing over two penalties for the Havies and Reza Mubarak putting over one for police as the scores stood at 17-20.

Police’s Number Eight Radeesha Seneviratne gave the side the cutting edge by scoring his second converted try to make the scores 24-20. During the dying stages of the game Havies sealed the match in their favour when Dushmantha Priyadharshana touched down for a push-over try and the much needed extra points were added by Rimzi Jamladeen who along with his opposite number Reza Mubarak had a fine outing. Referee: Dinka Peiris.