Army in superb 28-18 win over Police

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

RUGBY: The Sri Lanka Army after being contained in the first half, went on the rampage after the breather to score a superb 28 points (one goal, three tries, two penalties) to 18 (one goal, one try, one penalty and one drop goal) win over Sri Lanka Police in their Caltex ‘A’ Division League rugby match played at Havelock Park yesterday after trailing 7-13 at ‘lemons’.

With veteran flanker Herathge Karunaratne entering the field after half-time the Army ‘eight’ came up with a terrific display to outplay their counterparts in the loose.

Karunaratne was a source of inspiration to his team-mates with his fiery loose play. With Meepage, Palihena, Jayalal, Kobbekaduwa, Ratnayake and Manoj Silva giving of their best the Army forwards reigned supreme.

They also won a large share of possession from the set scrums with Jayalal striking a shade faster than his vis-a-vis Jayasinghe while the line-outs were shared between the Police duo of Wilson and Vitharana and Army’s Ajith Susantha and Pushpakumara.

The policemen surged into the lead in the 2nd minute when Harshana Wijeweera fired across a 25-metre penalty.

Four minutes later Police won a line-out in the Army ‘25’ and set the three quarters in motion and centre Hettiarachchi sliced through the Army defence and slung out a pass to co-centre Priyantha Pradeep who touched down under the posts.

Wijeweera added the extra points to make it 10-nil. In the 16th minute the ball came Police’s way off a loose maul in the Army ‘25’ and fly-half Harshana Wijeweera dropped a goal from 25 metres out, to make it 13-nil.

In the 28th minute off a second phase move Army’s fly-half Upul Kumara made a break on the blind side and slipped out a pass to winger Vajira Jayatilleke who scored by the right corner flag. Kapila Knowlton made a splendid conversion to reduce the deficit and Police led 13-7 at the breather.

After resumption the gallant soldiers went on the rampage. In the 3rd minute of the second half Army’s No. 8 Manoj Silva barged through to touch down by the left corner flag off a 10 metre line out.

Knowlton missed the conversion. Five minutes later Army snatched the lead when off a second phase move in the Police ‘25’.

Army’s full back Kapila Knowlton made a break and sent winger Duminda Wickremaratne to score by the left corner-flag. Knowlton missed the conversion. (Army 17-13).

In the 18th minute of the second half the soldiers increased their lead when Kapila Knowlton fired across a 25 metre penalty to make it 20-13.

Two minutes later Army’s scrum-half Tharindu Dharshana picked up a loose ball in mid-field and set the three quarters in motion and substitute winger Saliya Handapangoda dashed through over 30 metres to fall over for a glorious try by the right corner-flag. Knowlton missed the conversion. (Army 25-13).

The Policemen fought back and in the 29th minute off a quick short tap in the Army ‘25’ flanker Gemunu Indrachapa crashed through to score mid-right. Pradeep missed the conversion. Army 25-18.

Five minutes before the final whistle Army’s full back Kapila Knowlton (who had an excellent game) sent the ball sailing over the cross bar off a 35-metre penalty and the soldiers ran out worthy winners by 28 points to 18.

Referee: Dilroy Fernando