Navy Sports Club storm into Clifford Cup final
by Ranjan ANANDAPPA
Navy entered the final of the Caltex Clifford Cup knock-out
tournament when they beat Havelocks SC by 23 points (2 goals,1 penalty
and 2 drop goals) to 12 (1 goal, 1 try) in the semi-final match at the
Royal College Sports Complex grounds yesterday.
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Navy Sports Club’s scrum half Suranga Pushpakumara storms
ahead after evading a tackle by a Havelocks defender in the
Caltex Clifford Cup semi-final match played at the Royal
Sports Complex yesterday. (Picture by Kavindra Perera) |
Although the Sailors dominated a good share of play, it was anybody’s
game till the last whistle was blown. The winners led 10-0 at the
breather, but Havelocks sprang back after the turn around and about ten
minutes before to put the game in the balance 13-12 in favour of the
Sailors.
Navy gave a fine allround display and were willing to run the ball
most of the time while Havelocks lacked the co-ordination. They stormed
into the Navy territory but could not score due to lack of finish.
Navy’s full back Dev Anand who missed the quarter-final match against
the Police last week due to injury played a pivotal role in the Sailors
win. He first put over a penalty in the sixth minute of the game and
thereafter dropped two kicks to relieve the pressure that was building
up for the Sailors. Navy opened scoring in the sixteenth minute when
prop Sathya Ranatunga touched down off a three quarter move and Dev
Anand gave them the extra points. For Havelocks Amjad Buksh misdirected
a penalty which deprived them in reducing the gap.
Havelocks showed signs of attacking during the latter part of the
first half, but faulty ball handling robbed them of scoring. They were
also too dependent on their two foreign players who were marked men.
In the second half the Havelock Park Club touched down twice first
when Anurudha Wilawara pierced the Navy defence off a three quarter move
which went unconverted. Minutes later substitute Roshan Rajapakse broke
off and touched down and Sajith Bandara added the extra points.
During the dying stages of the match a desperate clearance kick by a
Havelocks defender was smothered by Navy hooker Namal Rajapaksa who
picked up the ball and scored under the posts to give Dev Anand an easy
kick at goal to make the final tally 23-12 in favour of Navy.
Referee: Priyantha Gunaratne.
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