It was a hot and humid day as Charith Senevirathne kicked started the game in favour of the Airmen, who recollected the ball and put Police under immediate pressure. Replacing Gayantha Iddamalgoda’s boots, Ishara Madhushan, straightaway made an impact after slicing through a yawning gap in the Police defense and touching down under the posts, 2 minutes into the game. But, the Cops responded through two quick tries by Udaya Sanujala and Janith Chandimal who put Police in the lead. However, Chandimal failed to convert both tries for his side whilst Seneviratne added the extras.
The next 20 minutes of the game saw both teams attempting to breach the other’s defense – that’s when Parakkrama Rathnayake struck the Cops with a try beside the post as Senevirathne made no mistake with the conversion. As half-time approached Chandimal managed to slot in two three-pointers which put Police in the lead at lemons.
Half time: PSC led 16 – 14 AFSC
The second-half got underway with Senevirathne’s three-pointer sailing over the uprights as ten minutes later the hooker Rathnayake scored his second try after steering from the back of a driving maul. As Senevirathne’s conversion bisected the posts, Police began feeling the pressure. That’s when Kasun Suranga played a quick penalty and made a dashing 30 meter run before offloading to Vihanga Pivithuru who touched down in the far corner. This time around Chandimal made no mistake with the conversion to get his team back in the lead.
The dying minutes of the game saw the tables turn as scrum-half Nuwan Perera and full-back Senevirathne added the final nail to the Police coffin, sealing Air Force’s spot in the grand finale. Perera’s try in the 77th minute after pouncing on a loose ball in the near touchline was followed by an easy under the post penalty by Senevirathne, which shut Police’s hopes of clinching the trophy, but sparked their own, giving them a chance of rewriting Air Force Rugby history.
Full time: AFSC won 32 (4T 3C 2P) – 23 PSC (3T 1C 2P)
Player of the Match: Nuwan Perera (AFSC Scrum-half)
Referee: Remi Julien
Score Breakdown AFSC
Tries: Parakkrama Rathnayake 2, Ishara Madhushan, Nuwan Perera
Conversions: Charith Senevirathne 3
Penalties: Charith Senevirathne 2
Score Breakdown PSC
Tries: Udaya Sanjula, Janith Chandimal, Vihanga Pivithuru
Conversions: Janith Chandimal 1
Penalties: Janith Chandimal 2
