Navy sports club weathered a brutal attack from Havelock Sports Club at Havelock Park to stake claim to a 17-13 win.
The scoreboard got moving at the very onset of the game with a penalty being awarded to Havelock Sports Club (HSC) almost immediately from the kick off. Dulaj Perera had an easy go at the uprights and put the park club on the board early, 3 nil.
HSC set the pace of the game very early with a quality performance unleashing their backs with lethal efficiency. Navy were weighted under the pressure of the attack and were giving it their all to keep the hosts form scoring. Pressure getting to the sailors saw them erring on occasion and Dulaj Perera was once more seen stepping up for a kick at goal. Dulaj’s second attempt was unsuccessful and the scoreboard remained at 3 nil.
The hosts playing to a well thought-out strategy were successful in retaining ball and continuously penetrating the opposition defence. HSC’s efforts bore fruit with a good team effort working the ball wide allowing for a supporting Dulaj Perera to go over the line. Converting his own try Dulaj took the score to 10 nil.
Havelock’s were looking in good form and held the obvious upper hand. Things looked more brighter for Havelock’s as Navy’s try scoring machine Joeli Lutumailagi limped off the field with quite a lot of game time remaining.
Navy sports club displaying their usual brilliance with the experienced hands they have looked to turn around the game. Opportunity came in the form of Navy’s forwards as they converted a close quarter play into points with Sajith Saranga going over the line. Rizah Mubarak had no problems with the conversion and Navy was on the board albeit a marginal deficit, 10-7.
Just at the half Chanaka Chandimal received a yellow card, and as the players went into the sheds the hosts would have fancied their position but with caution given the reputation of the Sailors.
Half time: Havelock’s 10 (1G, 1P) – Navy 7 (1G)
The second half kicked off with the same pace as before lemons. The hosts were out all guns blazing but a waning intensity was seen. The first 10 minutes of the half saw the game finding its direction with Havies continuing on the same page and Navy waiting for opportunity to turn the tables.
Navy had the chance to equalize the score line through a penalty 15 minutes into the half. Mr, Reliable had no problems in wiping the deficit off the score as the ball sailed between the posts, 10 all!.
The place kickers having a big role during the game, and Dulaj Perera was once more in action to put the home side ahead once again through a penalty. Dulaj was successful with his attempt and put the park club ahead once more, 13-10.
The last 15 minutes of the game had everything to play for. The first to score during this stage would have been in an extremely good position as both sides were displaying good defence. Unfortunately for HSC it lost speedy playmaker Danushka Ranjan to a yellow card and were down to 14 men. This would be a telling factor in the hosts defence to maintain their lead against a formidable fresh attach from the Sailors.
And so it was! The sailors did make some tactical replacements with Leo Naikasau and Warren Dean and Naikasau was the man to make the change. With only 8 minutes remaining in the game Leo Naikasau powered his way through the middle brutally brushing pass the defenders and scoring almost under the posts. Rizah Mubarak had no issues with the simple conversion and put Navy on the right side of the equation with only minutes remaining in the game. 17-13 Navy ahead.
Try as they might the hosts were playing out of their skin to try and conjure some last minute magic. But it was not to be as the sailors ran down the clock to take a close game home.
Navy displayed clinical efficiency in not letting the game get away from them and keeping their head in the game. End of the day the experience and levelheadedness paid off for the sailors in turning the game around. A special mention should be made for Villiami Tahitua of HSC. Playing in the outside centre position his defence and attaching play was a constant threat to the opposition and a boon to the hosts as he successfully kept the likes of Joeli Lutumailagi, Navari Eramasi and Leo Naikasau at bay.
Full Time: Navy 17(2T, 2C, 1P) beat Havelock 13(1T, 1C, 2P)
ThePapare.com man of the match – Dulaj Perera for his total contribution on the points. To the home side
ThePapare.com caught up with co-coach of the Navy side Phil Pretorius for his views on the game. His first statement was on the impressive quality of rugby being dished out in the middle and congratulated the opposition for their fight. Coach Phil stated that during the break the advice to the lads was a simple one, “keep calm and keep doing what you do”.
Navy squad: Kasun de Silva, Dulanjana Wijesinghe, Terrence Henry, Kalana Amarasinghe, Sajith Saranga, Danushka Perera, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Navari Eramasi, Surange Pushpakumara, Chanaka Chandimal, Vishwamithra Jayasighe, Lee Keegel, Joeli Lutumailagi, Dinusha Fernando, Rizah Mubarak, Sathya Ranathunga, Achala Perera, Bial Hassan, Hasitha Perera, Dean Warren, Saliya Handapangoda, Leo Naikasau and Samith Dananjaya.
Havelock’s squad: Ganuka Dissanayake, Liston Karunanayake, Sudarshana Priyadarshana, Ashen Karthelis, Jason Melder, Shehan Pathirana, Sudarshan Muthuthanthri, Taufa Sione, Kavindu de Costa, Dulaj Perera, Sheriff Mohamed, Danushka Ranjan, Villiami Tahituwa, Sandun Herath, Mithun Hapugoda, Ashen Darling, Ranga Perera, Thushitha Samarathilake, Anuranga Walpola, Diran Warnakulasooriya, Josh Kaifa, Hirantha Perera and Tuiplotu Mapa.
