Navy storm into Clifford Cup Finals

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Unbeaten league champions Navy Sports Club stormed into the Dialog Clifford Cup finals when they outplayed Upcountry Lions by 35-25 in the 1st semi-final worked out under lights at Race Course International stadium.

Both teams took the field after successfully beating their opponents in the quarter finals last week. Navy SC had an easy outing against Air Force while Upcountry Lions thrashed CR & FC.

Chanaka Chandimal kicked off this clash on an unusual week day for rugby.  Upcountry Lions got their hands on the ball early on and they struck as early as the 3rd minute of the game when Shanaka Kumara fired across a 40 meter penalty kick to put the Lions from Upcountry in the lead. (Navy 00 – Lions 03)

Navy hit back in the next minute when Upcountry Lions defenders were caught red handed for not rolling away in a ruck and the trusted boot of Nuwan Hettiarachchi did the rest by kicking an easy penalty to level the scores. (Navy 03 – Lions 03) 

Both teams played a territorial game in the early minutes to settle down their nerves as Setefano Cakau tested the Upcountry Lions defense line several times with his stunning line breaks.

Upcountry Lions came back swinging into the lead in the 11th minute of the match when their wing three quarter Shanaka Kumara converted a penalty kick from a short range after Navy SC’s hard working flanker Dhanushka ‘Gertha’ Perera was penalized for offside play. 

(Navy 03 – Lions 06)

Fans were kept on the edges of their seats as both teams displayed a superior brand of Sri Lankan rugby which was a treat to watch. Namal Rajapakshe playing his final few professional rugby games scored a terrific try in the 15th minute when he took a quick tap from 5 meters out penalty advantage and Sri Lanka’s first choice hooker was unstoppable. Nuwan Hettiarachchi added the extra points. (Navy 10 – Lions 06)

Good passage of play was to be seen as both teams made terrific attacking attempts deep inside their opponent’s territory with Setefano Cakau and Mateaki Kafatolu being the danger men from Navy camp while Joe Raikabula and Srinath Sooriyabandara showing their class from the Upcountry Lions outfit.

Nuwan Hettiarachchi extended the Navy lead by another three points in the 30th minute when he bisected the posts with ease after Lions players were penalized for hands in the ruck. 

(Navy 13 – Lions 06)

Navy SC went into the half time with a comfortable lead after Navy SC number 8 Mateaki Kafatolu barged over for a superb try from a 5 meter scrum deep inside Upcountry Lions 22’ meter territory in a typical number 8 style. Nuwan Hettiarachchi converted the try.

Half time : Navy SC 20 – Upcountry Lions 06

After the 10 minute half time break, Upcountry Lions captain Srinath Sooriyabandara restarted the game. Both teams took the field looking to execute their plans with great concentration and put pressure in the set plays to gain control of the game. 

Navy SC registered the first points of the second half when Nuwan Hettiarachchi slanted a penalty kick in the 42nd minute after Upcountry Lions were offside in their defence.

(Navy 23 – Lions 06)

Upcountry Lions finally got their act together in the 50th minute when their open side wing three quarter Sashan Mohammed touched down after series of attacking phases inside Navy 22’ meter territory. Navy SC defended like champions but they finally faulted. Shanaka Kumara converted the try. (Navy 23 – Lions 13)

Navy SC second rower Sathya Ranathunga was yellow carded in the 55th minute for not releasing the tackled player and Upcountry Lions used the one man advantage to the maximum effect as captain Srinath Sooriyabandara dummied the Navy defense and scored to cut the deficit to only 5 points going into the final quarter of the match. Shanaka Kumara failed to add the extra points. (Navy 23 – Lions 18)

Both fly halves (Nigel Ratwatte for Upcountry Lions and Chanaka Chandimal for Navy SC)

were the stand out players as they controlled the game exceptionally well and their booming drubber kicks were dangerous in attack and their territorial punt kicks gained ground. Upcountry Lions suffered a severe blow in the 66th minute when their replacement number 8 Peniasi Tokakece was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes which paved the way for Navy SC to shut down the game when their wing three quarter Dinusha Chathuranga scored the 3rd Navy try for the night after he received a perfectly executed scissor pass from Nuwan Hettiarachchi but ‘Hetti’ missed the conversion. (Navy 28 – Lions 18)

Navy SC sealed off the game in the 74th minute when their in-form number 10 Chanaka Chandimal scored the last try for the winning team after Saliya Handapangoda initiated the break from loose play. Nuwan Hettiarachchi had no problems with the conversion. (Navy 35 – Lions 18)

Upcountry Lions gave some respect to their score line with a superb try by Tevita Taufei in the final minute of the game after he found a small gap in the strong Navy defense. Shanaka Kumara converted the final try as referee Erik Solvong blew the final whistle to the delight of Navy players and supports as they booked their place in the Sunday’s Dialog Clifford Cup Final.

Full Time : Navy SC 35 – Upcountry Lions 25 

ThePapare.com Man of the Match – Mateaki Kafatolu