Lions in Roaring victory

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The Up Country Lions took on the formidable Police sports club earlier today in the final encounter of Week 6 in the Dialog ‘A’ Division Rugby League.

 

Both teams came into the game having had a mixed season so far with a couple of exceptional wins along with a number of poor performances. 

Police SC came into the game guns blazing as they capitalized on a mistake by Nigel Ratwatte who put the ball out on the full after carrying it back into his own 22 in just the 1st minute. Police pounced on the oppurtuity when they utilized a  powerful driving maul to send over lock- forward Dushantha Honnanthara. Arshad Jamaldeen was unable to add the extra points from left of the uprights. 

Nigel Ratwatte then added two penalties in quick succesion making up for his mistake early in the game. The visitors now led 06-05. The massive Police center Lapana Makapelu then barged his way over the line knocking over a few defenders on his way to retake the lead for his team. Jamaldeens conversion gave Police a 12-06 lead. A few minutes later Romesh Archirige then finally tumbled over the line after Police repeatedly put preasure on the Lions line. Jamaldeen was spot on with his kick taking the score to 19-06.

The little half back Dilan DeSoyza then went over for the Lions first try when he used his nimble footwork to dance his way over the line. Ratwatte’s failed conversion meant the visitors trailed by 8 a little over half way into the first half -19-11. Niroshan Karunanayake scored what would be his first try of the evening and with Ratwatte’s conversion brought the Lions to within one point.

On the stroke of half-time Jamaldeen slotted over a fairly easy penalty in order to put some distance between the Police and Lions

HALF TIME SCORE 22-18 (POLICE)

Early in the second half the Lions put on a poweful driving mall inside the Police 22m line sucking in defenders before Dilan Soyza launched the backs who showed good composure to work the ball down to Niroshan Karunanayake on the openside wing to finish in the corner. A brilliant kick by Nigel saw the Lions take the lead making the score 25-22. Disappointingly, the Lions were penalised in the scrum where they had dominated all through the game early on. Nipuna Devinda was sent to the bin after he back chatted to the referee. 

Sixty minutes into the game the Lions set up a spectacular phase of play and the move was finished off by Kavindu Perera under the posts. Nigel converts 32-22. Tevita Taufui the massive center then burrowed one knocking players over to score just right of the uprights and with Nigel’s conversion Lions led 39-22. 

The rest of the game was filled with cynical play and inconsistent refereeing which saw two more yellow cards to Romesh Archirige from Police and Kanchana Ramanayake from the Lions. It also included a warning to the Lions coach Imthie Marikkar who made his thoughts heard to the Assistant referee Irshad Carder. 

The Lions eventually ran away with it as Sooriyabandara fittingly ran the ball out of play on the stroke of full time giving his team a 39-22 win which is their 3rd of the season. 

Soori was adjudged the Man of the Match by ThePapare commentary team as he was spectacular whenever he had space and was a vital cog in the creating of over laps for his wingers to threaten out wide.