Air Force edge out CH

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club created a major upset as they edged out the more fancied CH and FC team by 11 points to 10 points in an exciting Caltex inter club ‘A’ division league rugby tournament match worked off at Ratmalana yesterday.

The Airmen collected their points from one try and two penalties after having led eight nil at half time. CH and FC responded with a goal and a try.

This was another fantastic performance from Air Force SC who have produced some good rugby in their last two outings. They nearly beat Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club in the very first outing of the tournament and last week they really gave the defending champions Kandy Sports Club a tough time before going down fighting.

This time they made their intentions clear from the kick off and built up an eight nil lead at half time with prop forward Sajith Samaranayake scoring their solitary try following a five metre scrum.

Chanaka Chandimal missed the conversion but few minutes later fired across a 25 metre penalty to put the home side on course to their second victory of the tournament, as Air Force led 8-0. Early in the second half CH fought back when Dinuk de S. Wijeyeratne fired across a 40 metre penalty for CH to reduce the deficit. Air Force’s Chanaka Chandimal then put over a 25 metre penalty to make it 11-3 in favour of Air Force.

Ten minutes later CH winger Lakala Perera picked up a loose ball and ran 80 metres to touch down under the posts to give Omar Hassan an easy kick at goal. (Air Force 11-10).

During the last three minutes CH fly half Omar Hassan missed two penalties much to the dismay of their supporters.