Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club had to throw in everything to draw 13-13 against a brave debut-making Hambantota Sharks team in their first round Dialog inter club ‘A’ division league rugby tournament match worked off at the newly constructed Beliatta stadium today.
The Hambantota Sharks coming out for the first time this season after their scheduled opening fixture against Havelocks SC was abandoned last week due to a power failure collected their points from two tries and one penalty while Air Force SC responded with one goal and two penalties.
The Airmen were forced to trail 10-13 at the start of the second half and saved face midway in the session thanks to a penalty which was converted by their reliable place kicker and dynamic full back Asanka Perera to level scores.
Even then the host team no doubt played as the better side in the first half as they ran down two splendid unconverted tries, the first of which was by speedy wing three quarter Lasitha Perera followed by centre Kosala Tissera doing the honours to cross the line to add to a vital penalty which made up the 13 points.
However Air Force SC hit back in the first half and made a return to the contest when burly prop forward Amal Dissanayake touched down almost under the post for their only try of the match, the conversion of which was made by full back Asanka Perera.
Perera was also on target with a penalty for the Airmen in the same half to reduce the margin and later put over a second kick at goal to draw level before the final whistle.
The Sharks of course collected all their points in the first half but had the satisfaction of obtaining an extra bonus point as they had the opportunity of scoring more tries than their opponents.
