Army Sports Club handed Navy Sports Club a heavy 49-22 defeat in their Week 8 clash of the Mastercard Inter-Club ‘A’ Division Rugby League 2024/25 played at Navy Grounds, Welisara.
Struggling Navy Sports Club, still searching for their first win, hosted Army Sports Club—who are vying for fourth place—in a rain-soaked all-forces clash to kick off the Week 8 games. The home side showed promise in the early stages but failed to capitalise, while the visitors, despite patient phase play, also struggled to convert pressure into points.
Navy suffered a setback when Sanruk Gamage was sent to the bin for a high tackle. Army looked poised to score but fumbled near the try line. However, with a penalty advantage in hand, they opted for points in the 31st minute, as Isuru Madagedara slotted an easy kick to break the deadlock. (Navy 00-03 Army)
The Soldiers finally found their rhythm, launching an attack from a center scrum near the 40-meter mark. A brilliant No. 8 and Scrum half combination created space for Isuru Madagedara, who weaved through three defenders to score. He then converted his own try with ease. (Navy 00-10 Army)
Navy responded with a moment of brilliance as Thilina Weerasinghe sent a towering up-and-under, contested superbly in the air by Chanaka Jayalath. The ball fell backward, allowing Denuwan Wickramarachchi to collect the loose ball and race under the posts untouched. Weerasinghe added the extras. (Navy 07-10 Army)
Just before the break, Weerasinghe slotted a simple penalty, leveling the scores after Army conceded for hands in the ruck near the try line. The infringement proved costly as scrum-half Manjula Weerasinghe was sent to the bin, adding to Army’s woes.
Half Time: Navy SC 10 (1T,1C,1P) – Army SC 10 (1T,1C,1P)
Army wasted no time asserting their dominance in the second half, as playmaker Isuru Madagedara collected a clearance kick, gained a few meters, and delivered a long cut-out pass to winger Manoj Kumara. Displaying blistering pace, Kumara exploited a disorganized Navy defence to score the opening try of the half, with Madagedara adding a perfect conversion from a difficult angle. (Navy 10-17 Army)
The Soldiers maintained their momentum, attacking from a 5-meter lineout and patiently utilising their forwards in close quarters with a pick-and-drive strategy. Awarded a penalty, flyhalf Ashan Bandara quickly tapped and fed the ball to the powerful Dhanilsha Dissanayake, who bulldozed over the line for Army’s third try. (Navy 10-22 Army)
Army continued their dominance, gaining significant meters through a rolling maul before prop forward Buddhi Sreemantha broke through Navy’s defensive line. Acting scrum-half Ashan Bandara quickly spread the ball to the corner, where Manoj Kumara showcased his strength, powering through two Navy defenders to score his second and Army’s bonus-point try. (Navy 10-27 Army)
After conceding three quick tries in just ten minutes, Navy finally found some rhythm, stringing together multiple phases before swiftly spreading the ball from the right wing to the left. Skipper Thilina Weerasinghe displayed his resilience, bumping off three defenders to cross the whitewash and keep his team in the fight. (Navy 15-27 Army)
Army maintained their dominance despite conceding, with their forwards piling on the pressure. Scrum-half Wasantha Kumarasinghe sold a clever dummy, creating space for Ashan Bandara, who used his footwork and power to break through before offloading to prop Dhanuka Wijethilake, who dived over in the corner. Minutes later, Army executed a rolling maul from the 10-meter line, with hooker Dhanilsha Dissanayake powering over off the back to further solidify their stronghold on the game. (Navy 15-37 Army)
The Sailors’ defence was once again exposed as the Soldiers continued their dominance, drawing defenders with relentless pick-and-drives before Wasantha Kumarasinghe expertly utilized his backs. Ashan Bandara spotted space in the corner and delivered a pinpoint pass to Manoj Kumara, allowing the winger to complete his hat-trick in the second half, capping off another flawless move. (Navy 15-42 Army)
Navy managed a consolation try after patiently building phases near the try line, with Ramesh Anushka powering over after a strong carry. However, Army had the final say as playmaker Ashan Bandara finally found the whitewash, sealing a commanding victory.
Full Time: Navy SC 22 (3T,2C,1P) – Army SC 49 (8T,3C,1P)
- Player of the Match: Ashan Bandara (Army SC)
Points Breakdown
Navy SC 22
Denuwan Wickramarachchi 1T, Ramesh Anushka 1T, Thilina Weerasinghe 1T,2C,1P
Army SC 49
Manoj Kumara 3T, Dhanilsha Dissanayake 2T, Dhanuka Wijethilake 1T, Ashan Bandara 1T, Isuru Madagedara 1T,3C,1P
