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A superb second half rally enabled the Sri Lanka Army to beat Havelocks by 24 points (two goals, two tries) to 16 (two tries, two penalties) in their Caltex 'A' Division League rugby match played at Army grounds, Galle Face on Friday after trailing 5-6 at the breather. Thus the soldiers retained the Yenfu Pakstun Trophy for the second successive year.

Havelocks surged into the lead in the 6th minute when fly half Tikiri Dissanayake fired across a 40-metre penalty and four minutes later he put over another 40 metre penalty from a difficult angle to make it 6-nil. The soldiers reduced the deficit in the 19th minute when off a 25-metre drop out by full back T. A. Silva the ball was collected by winger Sithara Fernando who ran 40 metres and when challenged by a Havies defender he gave an inside pass to centre Vajira Jayatilleke who fell over for an unconverted try mid right and the scores road 6-5 in favour of Havelocks at 'lemons'.

In the 8th minute after resumption the soldiers snatched the lead when Army won a five metre scrum and fly half Ajit Peiris kicked a grubber and centre Vajira Jayatilleke who followed it fell on the loose ball in the in goal area for a splendid try T. A. Silva converted to make it 12-6. Five minutes later Havelocks won a line out in mid field and set the three quarters in motion and winger Thisal Jayawardena made a superb 40 metre run on the left flank and fell over for a spectacular unconverted try by the left corner flag to reduce the deficit. In the 24th minute of the second half off a second phase move Army's winger Mohamed Naushad made a break and gave an inside pass to centre Vajira Jayatilleke who scored mid left. T. A. Silva added the extra points to make it 19-11. In the 34th minute of the second half the soldiers put the issue beyond doubt when winger Mohamed Naushad touched down by the left corner flag off a second phase move. T. A. Silva missed the conversion and Army led 24-11.

Four minutes before the final whistle the park club reduced the deficit when fly half Tikiri Dissanayake began a move in mid field and slung out a pass to full back Lalindra Rodrigo who sped over 40 metres to score by the right corner flag. Dissanayake missed the conversion and Army ran out worthy winners by 24-16.

Referee: Aruna Jayasekera.

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