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| Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
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Army ground Air Force 30-13 by Lal Gunesekera Army won their third game in four outings of the Caltex League Rugby Championship yesterday at Galle Face when they grounded Air Force by 30 points (2 goals, 2 tries, 2 penalties) to 13 (2 tries, 1 penalty) after leading 19-5 at half-time. The soldiers who beat the Police (32-12) and Old Zahirians (43-8) lost to CR (13-26), but yet did not play to their full potential though beating the Airmen. They were guilty of trying to "go on their own" instead of passing the ball around. The Airmen too were guilty of the same offence and also made too many mistakes for an 'A' division side. This was their third defeat in four games having lost earlier to CH (15-29) and Kandy (3-48) though beating Navy (27-3). Left-winger Duminda scored the first try for Army in the fifth minute, and it took the Airmen 23 minutes to make the equaliser through second-rower Kurukulasuriya. Both conversions were missed by T. A. Silva (Army) and Sajith Bandara (Air Force). In the 31st minute, after being inside the Air Force "22", for more than five minutes Army went ahead with centre Kapila Knowlton touching down mid-left and T. A. Silva making certain of the extra points (Army 12-5). Then in the 38th minute, Army's hooker Rajapakse made the opening for left-winger Perakum Fernando to score far left and Silva made a splendid conversion (Army 19-5). After the "turn around", Air Force reduced the deficit in the fourth minute through a Sajith Bandara penalty, but in the 15th minute, Army went further ahead with Knowlton making his second try. Silva missed the conversion (Army 24-8). Then, Kurukulasuriya, scored another Try for Air Force in the 20th minute, but Bandara failed with the kick (Air Force 13-24). Three minutes later T. A. Silva put over a simple 15 metre penalty for Army to lead 27-13 and just before the final whistle, put them further ahead with yet another penalty. Army's flanker Karunatilleke who was sent into "Sin Bin" early in the first session, was shown the "red card" in the 12th minute of the second-half and Army were forced to play with 14 personnel. Nizam Jamaldeen refereed. On Friday, Police beat Old Zahirians by 32 points (2 goals, 3 tries, 1 penalty) to 21 (3 goals) at Longden Place. Today (Sunday), Navy take on Havelocks at Welisara. Yesterday, just before the 'A' division game, Army trounced Air Force by
49 points (2 goals, 7 tries) to 5 (1 try) in their Caltex 'B' division
league game. |
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