Army win Plate Championship

Thushan JAYASURIYA

The Sri Lanka Army Sports Club clinched the Plate Championship of the Dialog ‘A’ division league rugby tournament with a hard fought 21.(one goal, one try , three penalties) to 19 (one goal, four penalties) win over Police SC at Havelock Park on Sunday after trailing 9 -16 at lemons.

The Police went ahead early through two penalties by full back Shanaka Kumara.The Army equalized through two penalties fired across by Upali Wickramasinghe to make it six all. A penalty each by Police’s Shanaka Kumara and Army’s Upali Wickramasinghe saw the scores reading nine all. On the stroke of half time, Police fly half Lahiru Gunasinghe crashed through for a try which was converted by Shanaka Kumara to give Police a 16 – 9 lead at lemons.

The Soldiers reduced the deficit in the 10th minute of the second half through an unconverted try by winger Saliya Handapangoda . But, the Police hit back through another penalty by Shanaka Kumara to make it 19 – 14. Just before the final whistle soldiers breached the police defence when Kunaga Steve scored a try and added the extra points himself. And the soldiers ran out winners by 21 points to 19 which brought them the Plate Championship to the joy of their supporters.