Big names shine at Dialog Inter Club Rugby 7’s day 1

Top rugby Clubs in Sri Lanka came together as the Dialog Club Rugby 7’s tournament began yesterday at Race course grounds Colombo 7.

With the reigning champions Navy SC not present at the tournament many other teams approached hoping to claim the club 7’s trophy. 

The day kicked off as Havelock SC thumped the Air Force ‘C’ team 54-nil. Havelock SC came out all guns blazing as the scored 8 tries past a helpless Air Force ‘C’ team earlier today. Meanwhile in the second game of the day the lads from Police SC displayed a spirited effort to score 33 points against a dismal Navy Sea Horses team that could manage only 10 points. Police SC 33-10 Navy Sea Horse.

As one of the two teams to feature from the hill country, Kandy ‘A’ team started slowly but managed to gain momentum as they scored 38 points against yet another disappointing Air Force ‘B’ team. The Air Force ‘B’ team did not manage to register any score.  Kandy SC ‘A’ 38-00 Air Force ‘B’

CR & FC ‘A’ team got their campaign off to a good start as they managed to win in a hard fought encounter vs. Army SC ‘B’ team. Although the score line reads 24-10 in favour of the CR ‘A’ lads the game was evenly balanced until CR & FC star Pium Jayasinghe made a dazzling break to score their team’s third try and put the game beyond the reach of Army SC ‘A’ team.

Havelock SC began their second game from where they left off as they came out of the blocks swiftly and scored 8 tries yet again to stamp their authority on the tournament. 

The highlight of the first session was Kandy stalwart Anuruddha Wilwara scoring a scintillating hat-trick to lead Kandy ‘A’ team pass a mediocre CR & FC ‘B’ team that could only manage one try.

CH & FC kicked off the second session of the day by beating Peterson SC 17-07 in a thrilling encounter while Navy Dreadnoughts kept Army SC ‘C’ scoreless. The game ended Navy Dreadnoughts 33-00 Army SC ‘C’.

Havelock SC kept their winning run in tact as they denied Police SC from scoring a single point. With that win Havelock SC top their group and move unbeaten into cup quarter finals.  Havelock SC 47-00 Police SC

Kandy SC ‘A’ secured an easy win to end the day unbeaten and top their group. The match started with Army SC ‘A’ scoring first points but Kandy SC ‘A’ scored two quick tries to gain the lead in the first half. Kandy SC ‘A’ team’s third try was scored by Fazil Marija when he received the ball in his own 22 only for him to step his way through the on rushing defense to score under the post and extend their lead. Kandy SC ‘A’ ended the game scoring 7 tries.   Kandy SC ‘A’ 41-07 Army SC ‘A’  

CR & FC ended the day with a win and ensured they finished top of their group. A scrappy game from the beginning lead to less scoring opportunities to both teams but Air Force SC ‘A’ broke the dead lock in the fifth minute of the first half. Air Force SC ‘A’ squandered a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the dying moments of the first half as the Air Force SC ‘A’ player knocked the ball on the try line. The second half began with a try to CR & FC ‘A’ as they leveled the game 7all. From the resulting kick off Air Force SC ‘A’ restored their 7 point lead with a converted try. With the game in the balance both teams had the opportunity to win it. Anuradha Hearath pounced on a loose ball in the dying seconds of the game and scored the winning try to end day one of the Dialog Club Rugby Sevens. 

The second round of matches continues tomorrow from 9am at Race Course grounds with some mouth-watering fixtures on the cards with the semi-finals stage due to commence a round 1.30pm.