It was a battle of halves but in the end Havelock’s sports club prevailed to take home the win finishing the game off with a 29-14 score line.
Army sports club who was the underdog on paper at the start of the game looked nothing like their pre-game tag line and came out all guns blazing piling the pressure on their opponents and kept a choke hold on Havelock’s causing them to falter in their play and search for momentum.
Army’s forwards drove hard and fast and also displayed a more settled game keeping their opponents on the back foot continuously. The efforts of the forces bore fruit as Thikshana Adhikaram went over with the line for the first score on the board. Pradeep Victor was successful with the conversion, gave Army a moral boosting 7 nothing lead.
Army kept their stronghold on Havies relentlessly and the only score managed by Havies in the first half was from the boot of Dulaj Perera. Army had the opportunity to extend their lead through two penalties but was unsuccessful. The teams went into the break with Army leading 7-3.
The second half looked to be no different as Army did come on strong once more from the kick off. The game changer may have been the entry of Paulo Kaho the Havelock’s Coach/player who turned the game around upping the pressure on Army. Kaho came into the game immediately with some big hits, hand offs and gaining good yardage. His efforts saw Havies move forward more efficiently and good hands by the Havelocks’s saw Niroshan Fernando (replacing Dulaj Perera) going over for the first try for Havelock’s. Fernando putting the conversion over himself put his side in the lead for the first time during the match, 10-7 Havies.
Havelock’s got some breathing space by scoring almost immediately after their first try, Captain Sudarshan Muthuthanthri being the contributor. It was a good effort by the team as a whole with all players contributing to the yardage with Muthu finishing off with a powerful clearance of the defense on the line. Fernando missed the penalty, scores read 15-7. Two tries in the space of 10 minutes left the high riding forces gasping but nevertheless they were in it till the last breath as the forces tries persistently to turn the table on the Havies.
Speedster Chamara Dhabare was the next on the scoring sheet with a clean receipt from Niroshan Fernando. Having to work to clear the last line of defense Dhabare did just that to go diving over for the 3rd Havelock’s try. Fernando converted the try with a beautiful kick from the left flank and took the score to 22-7.
Army were spiritedly trying to get back into the game but Paulo Kaho came to the party with a brilliant support with the ball flaying around. Brushing past the Army defense looking like a seasoned sevens player Kaho scored under the uprights. Fernando had it easy with the conversion Havelock’s in the lead with an unassailable 29-7. The game finished 29-14 to Havelock’s, Army scoring a consolation try at the dying stages of the game.
Yellow cards were a plenty in the game due to dangerous play. Army’s Thikshana Adhikari was sin-binned whilst Havelock’s Coach Paulo Kaho was also sent to the bin. Notably James Brown of the Havelock Foreign Service was red carded for dangerous play and Havies will be on the back foot in his absence.
Havelock’s looked sloppy and took a while for them to get into their usual groove. Pressure and unfamiliar territory clearly looked like the telling point for Havelock’s and they will no doubt have to rethink strategies if they are to make an impression in the knock-outs.
