Police in sensational win over Havelocks

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: The Sri Lanka Police which made their entry to segment one of the Caltex ‘A’ Division League tournament came up with a marvellous display to score a stunning 16-12 win over Havelocks Sports Club on Sunday.

The policemen who were reduced to 14 players midway in the first half when referee Dilroy Fernando ordered off number eight Asanga Dias fought bravely and withstood the fierce challenge from the park club.

The Police forwards especially Welagedera, Hewawasam, Chaminda Silva, Gemunu Indrachapa and skipper Pradeep Wilson came up with a terrific display to match upto the formidable Havelocks ‘eight’ especially Hassan, Jayasena, Rajiv Perera, Jayasuriya, Harrison and T.D. Seneviratne who too gave a sterling display.

In the set scrums Police’s Chaminda Silva had the edge over Havelocks Rajiv Perera while in the line outs the Havelocks trio of Jayasuriya, Jayasena and Amerasinghe held sway.

The return of Harshana Wijeweera strengthened Police’s back division. He relieved pressure with his long kicks to touch when they were in defensive situations and always set the three quarters in motion when they were in the opponents territory.

Centre Nilusha Fernando and young winger Hasith Niranga tested the Havelocks defence to the hilt with some daring runs.

They missed two certain tries in the last 15 minutes with Hasith Niranga making a powerful run on the left flank and touching down a few metres short of the goal line and then strongly built Nilusha Fernando sliced through the Havelocks defence from a three quarter move begun in mid field and slung out a pass to his co-centre Priyantha Ekanayake who ‘knocked on’ with the goal line staring at him.

Havelocks blundered by bringing in burly Wasim Thajudeen to the pivotal fly half berth in the second half. He wasted the hard earned possession by either kicking ahead aimlessly or trying to go ‘solo’ and was ‘nailed’ by the two Police flankers and his opposite number Wijeweera much to the dismay of his team-mates.

CH - Air Force

The formidable CH and FC scored a lack-lustre 19-nil win over a gallant Air Force outfit in the curtain raiser of the Caltex ‘A’ Division League at Maitland Crescent on Friday.

The Air Force forwards especially Saumya Silva, Ranasinghe Soysa, Vithanage, Siraj Niranga and skipper Kurukulasuriya came up with a power-packed display to rattle the CH ‘eight’ which was laden with national players Achala Perera, Ranaweera, Dinesh Sanjeewa, Malewana and Skipper Wijesekera.

However the lads from Maitland Crescent enjoyed a large share of possession with Achala Perera getting the better of his vis-a-vis Vithanage in the set scrums and the trio of Sanjeewa, Malewana and Senarath having the edge in the line outs.

However the CH three quarters could not make much headway as they were ‘nailed’ by their counterparts with some resolute tackling. Sturdily built Fijian Jimmy Bolakoro who was expected to steal the limelight was kept in close check by his opposite numbers Ruchira Fernando and Charith Seneviratne who brought him down with some bone-crunching tackles. Whenever they got the ball CH’s wingers Lakala Perera and Niroshan Ekanayake made some daring runs and were responsible for all three tries scored by CH.

The Air Force three quarters although they gave a courageous display in defence failed to impress in attack and at least missed three certain tries by spilling passes at crucial moments with the goal line staring at them.

CR - Army

The star studded CR and FC which is aiming to regain the ‘A’ Division League Title which has eluded them since 1998 scored a convincing 32-3 win over a young Army outfit on Saturday.

Enjoying an abundance of possession from the set scrums and line outs the Red Shirts fed their three quarters with good ball at every turn which resulted in them crossing the soldiers goal line on five occasions.

They could have won by a much bigger margin if not for some good spoiling work by the Army. Winger Dinesh Kumara, centre Mohamed Sheriff and fly half Lasintha de Costa had an excellent game but the most impressive was full back Ashan de Costa who capped a fine display by scoring two tries.

Kandy - Old Zahirians

Defending champions Kandy Sports Club fielding a virtual national team began their campaign in style by annihilating Old Zahirians by 77 points to nil on Sunday at Nittawela.

Kandy who are aiming to retain the ‘A’ Division League Title for a record seventh successive year crossed the Old Zahirians goal line on 13 occasions.

Sri Lanka skipper Sanjeeva Jayasinghe led the way with three scintillating tries while number eight Dushan Lewke, centre Chamara Vithanage, winger Sameera Silva and full back Nalaka Weerakkody scored two tries each to help Kandy to rout the minnows of ‘A’ Division rugby Old Zahirians.