Air Force made full use of home advantage as they beat Hambanthota Sharks 68-15. This meant Sharks began round two of the Dialog Rugby League with two defeats in as many weeks.
Air Force Fly Half Nuwan Perera kicked off the game on a gloomy evening at Air Force grounds in Rathmalana.
Butter fingers by the Sharks players in their goal area lead to an early score in the game as Air Force No.8 Opeti Delena broke strongly off a scrum and scored beside the left upright to give Air Force the lead in the game. Fly Half Nuwan Perera added the extras from the tee. (Air Force 07-00 Sharks)
Sharks made their way gradually in to the game as they cut the lead to two points in the 16th minute of the game as Fijian flyer Emori Waqa scored in the near corner off a well constructed set play. Captain Amjad Buksh failed to add the extras from the touch line. (Air Force 07-05 Sharks)
The third try of the game did not take too long to come as Air Force Centre Koilage Vilikesa calved the Sharks defence open and touched down beside the upright. A well worked line out move lead to the third try of the game. Nuwan Perera converted the try successfully. (Air Force 14-05 Sharks)
The next score of the game followed soon as Nuwan Perera kicked a drop goal from right in front of the upright to extend the Airman’s lead. (Air Force 17-05 Sharks)
Sharks lost talismanic Fijiyan Centre as he was sin binned for a questionable high tackle on an Air Force player. Air Force made full use of the man advantage as they scored 3 tries and kicked a penalty goal to take complete control of the game.
The score after going a man down was conceded as Air Force was handed a penalty in the Sharks 22 for a player going over at the ruck. Air Force players reacted first as they took a quick tap and worked the ball to the far touch line as Winger Kaushal Manuppriya rounded off to score in the corner. Nuwan managed to add the extras from the far touch line. (Air Force 24-05 Sharks)
Winger Kaushal Manuppriya scored his second of the game as big No.8 Opeti Delena collected a ball from broken play powered and stepped his way through the Sharks defence and popped an inside pass to Kaushal as he dived over the white was. Nuwan converted with ease to extend the Airman’s lead. (Air Force 31-05 Sharks)
No.8 Opeti Delena was the craftsman of the fifth Air Force try as he returned the kickoff with power bumping aside 4 Sharks players and set up blind side Winger Amila Bandara. Nuwan failed the conversion this time. (Air Force 36-05 Sharks)
Nuwan Perera kicked a 40 meter penalty to end the first half of the game. (Air Force 39-05 Sharks)
Half Time: Air Forcce 39 (5T,4C,1P,1DG) vs Sharks 05 (1T)
Air Force began the second half from where they left off but it was Sharks who scored first surprisingly to add some respectability to the score line. Full Back Emori Waqa scored his second of the game from a well made set play. Amjad Buksh failed with the conversion as the score remained at (Air Force 39-10 Sharks)
Sharks tried to revive the game as they scored their third try of the game as Centre Joshap Naeqelagi the villan in the first half made up for his error as he made a break and set up Winger Rajitha Samaranayake to score for Sharks. Amjad Buksh failed to convert the try. (Air Force 39-15 Sharks)
From then on it was Air Force all the way as they scored 4 tries and a penalty goal to see off Sharks. The first score for Air Force in the second half came through a penalty goal as Nuwan Perera converted a penalty from a friendly angle. (Air Force 42-15 Sharks)
The 6th try for Air Force came when Centre Koilage Vilikesa set up Rizwan Mohomed to score under the post. Nuwan converted the try successfully. (Air Force 49-15 Sharks)
The next three tries were scored by forwards as Prop Buddhika Jayasingher, Hooker Lahiru Udayanga and Lock Forward Pradeep Kurukulasooriya all crashed over. Nuwan successfully converted two but failed to convert the final try as the game drew to a close. (Air Force 68-15 Sharks)
Full Time: Air Force 68 (9T, 7C, 2P, 1DG) beat Sharks 15 (3T)
ThePapare.com Player of the match – Nuwan Perera (Air Force Fly Half)
