Navy SC began the second round of the Dialog rugby league in style as they delivered a clinical performance to humble the Hambanthota Sharks at home, scoring 19 tires in the process.
On a sunny day in Welisara Riza Mubarak kicked off the game at the Navy ground.
It did not take too long for the home team to open the scoring as Sharks were penalized for entering the ruck from the side. Instead of going for the easy three points, newly appointed Navy Captain Sajith Saranga opted to go for touch. From the resulting line out Navy created the perfect rolling maul and Hooker Dulanjana Wijesinghe found himself crashing over the white wash. Riza Mubarak added the extras from the tee. (Navy 07-nil Sharks)
Four minutes later Dulanjana Wijesinghe went over for his second try from a similar rolling maul to extend Navy SC’s lead. Riza missed the conversion. (Navy 12-nil Sharks)
Navy scored their 3rd try soon after as Prop Terence Henry crashed over in the far right corner when he found himself picking the ball from the ruck to score his first try. Riza missed the conversion. (Navy 17-nil Sharks). Little Scrum Half Suranga Pushpakumara scored off a short pass from Fly Half Chanaka Chandimal to register Navy’s 4th try. Riza successfully added the extras from the tee. (Navy 24-nil Sharks)
The scoring in the first half was far from over as minutes later Vishvamithra Jayasinghe collected a drop ball from within his own half and sprinted 60 meters to score the next try for Navy SC. Riza Successfully converted the try. (Navy 31-nil Sharks). Centre Lapana Makepelu scored the next try as he stepped his way through the Sharks defence to go over beside the post. Riza converted the try. (Navy 38-nil Sharks)
A high scoring, one sided first half drew to an end as Lock Forward Kalana Amarasinghe crashed over the white off a 3rd phase play to put the match beyond the reach of Sharks. Riza missed the conversion. (Navy 43-nil Sharks)
Half Time: Navy 43 (7T, 4C) – Sharks 00
The second half began in similar fashion as Navy SC scored just 5 minutes into the half. No.8 Halafihi Fuapau collected an over thrown line out and powered his way through the heart of the Sharks defence and popped a short pass to replacement Centre Setefano Cakaunavalu. Setefano sold a dummy of his own and sprinted passed a hapless Sharks defence to score in the far right corner. Riza converted the try successfully. (Navy 50-nil Sharks)
Hambanthota Sharks scored their one and only try as Fiji Fullback Emori Waqa ran through the heart of the Navy defence and set up Winger Gihan Dhanushke to score beside the upright. Captain Amjard Bucksh converted the try. (Navy 50-07 Sharks)
Navy collected the restart and from the second phase No.8 Halafihi Fuapau ran a good line and bumped the opposition Fullback aside as he crashed over to get the game back on track for Navy SC. Riza added the extras. (Navy 57-07 Sharks)
Centre Setefano Cakaunavalu weaved magic of his own as he ran from inside his own 22 meter line, stepped and powered his way to score under the post for Navy. Riza converted the try. (Navy 64-07 Sharks). Lee Keegal finished a move he himself started as he stylishly dived over to score the next try for Navy. Riza added the extras. (Navy 71-07 Sharks)
Captain Sajith Saranga scored beside the post for Navy. Riza converted the try. (Navy 78-07 Sharks). From the restart Vishvamithra Jayasinghe ran from 3rd phase play to score the next try for Navy. Riza missed the conversion. (Navy 83-07 Sharks)
Returning star player Bilal Hassan, Flanker Suhiru Anthony, Winger Dinusha Fernando and Replacement Lock Forward Niwanka Prasad Replacement, Scrum Half Richi Darmapala and Bilal Hassan (for his second) added their names on the score sheet as Navy took their score passed the 100 point margin. (Navy 125-07 Sharks) Riza converted 15 out of 19 tries and took his personal points tally passed 100.
Full Time: Navy 125 (19T, 15C) – Sharks 07 (1T, 1C)
ThePapare.com Player of the match – Chanaka Chandimal.
Teams:
Navy SC: – Riza Mubarak, Vishvamithra Jayasinghe, Lapana Makepelu, Lee Keegel, Chamara Dabare, Chanaka Chandimal, Suranga Pushpakumara, Fuapau Halafihi, Suhiru Anthony, Sajith Saranga, Hasitha Perera, Kalana Amarasinghe, Terence Henry, Dulanjana Wijesinghe, Kasun de Silva. Replacements: Sathya Ranathunga, Danuska Sandanuwan, Bilal Hassan, Nawari Eramasi, Niwanka Prasad, Richi Darmapala, Setefano Cakaunivalu, Dinusha Fernando.
Sharks:- Emori Waqa, Gihan Danushke, Joseph Naeqelagi, Priyantha Ekanayake, Rajitha Samaranayake, Chamara Kumara, Amjard Bucksh, Rizwan Nazar, Lahiru Mudaliye, Navinda Pullukthiarachi, Niraj Gurusignhe, Pubudu Kodagoda, Gayan Dilshan, Sathsara Rasnayake, Udaya Kumara. Replacements: Shehan Perera, Dimal Jayasinghe, Geethanjana Madushanka, Praveen Samarasooriya, Shiran Hettiarchchi, Rizwan Mohomad, Ramadas Rumesh, Ashan Jayasekara.
