Havelock Sports Club managed to enter to the semi-finals of the Dialog Clifford Cup knock-outs 2019 as they defeated the lackluster Navy Sports Club outfit 48 points to 19 in the final quarterfinal game worked off at the Racecourse stadium.
Havies commenced the game in superb fashion when a long pass by Sandesh Jayawickrama opened space for Dinuk Amarasinghe as he barged his way through the Navy line and made a quick pop pass to Chamara Dabare ensuring that Havies drew first blood as Riza Mubarak slotted in the extras. (HAVIES 07 – 00 NAVY)
Read More: Police crush a spiritless CR pack
Both teams aimed at playing the territorial game but the magician Mithun Hapugoda had other plans as he sneaked through the Navy defensive line and made a 40-meter dash to score under the post while Mubarak added crucial extras. (HAVIES 14 – 00 NAVY)
Havies forwards finally came in to the game as they played few phases near the try line and Umesh Madushan found the white wash through another pick and dive as Mubarak slotted in a perfect kick from a tight angle. (HAVIES 21 – 00 NAVY)
Navy struggled throughout the game and now they had to play with one player less when Dinusha Fernando was sin-binned for a reckless tackle as Havies opted for points for that penalty and Mubarak slotted in an easy three-pointer. Few plays later the speedy center Theekshana Dassanayake went over for the fourth Havies try as Navy kept on making mistakes. (HAVIES 29 – 00 NAVY)
Havies ended a superlative first half when their no 8 Lasindu Karunathilake broke through the advantage line and gained more than 50 meters. Finally, the nippy scrum half Hapugoda quickly collected the ball from the ruck and went over for his second while Mubarak bisected the uprights from the touch line.
Half Time: HAVELOCK SC 36 (5T,4C,1P) – 00 NAVY SC
As the heavens opened up at the start of the second half Navy finally got their act together as they played few phases without making any mistakes as Kasun De Silva powered himself over the line to score for the sailors and Chathura Senevirathne quickly add the extras. (HAVIES 36 – 07 NAVY)
Read More: Army trump CH & FC in Clifford Club thriller
Rain or no rain Havies kept on scoring tries as a long cut out pass from Jayawickrama opened ample space for Dabare again, to score his second. (HAVIES 41 – 00 NAVY)
Navy scored a superb try through their winger Chathura Senevirathne as he single handedly destroyed three Havies defenders to score under the post as Thilina Weerasinghe added extras to cut the deficit. (HAVIES 41 – 14 NAVY)
Havies were sloppy in defence as Navy sneaked in another consolation try through Raveen De Siva as the game slowed down due to rain and scoring chances were slim for both teams in the last quarter as they struggled with the wet ball. In the dying stages of the game Havies skipper Niroshan Fernando found some space and went over for the final try of the game to end a superlative performance for the park club as they will face Army SC in the second semi-final.
Read More: Colombo v Outstation origin battle – teams announced!
Full Time: HAVELOCK SC 48 (7T,5C,1P) – 19 NAVY SC (3T,2C)
- ThePapare.com’s Player of the Match – Mithun Hapugoda (HAVELOCK SC)
- Match Referee – Remy Julin from France
Breakdown
Havelock SC: Tries from Chamara Dabare (2), Mithun Hapugoda (2), Umesh Madushan, Theekshana Dassanayake, Niroshan Fernando, conversions (5) and penalty from Riza Mubarak
NAVY SC: Tries from Kasun De Silva, Chathura Senevirathne, Raveen De Silva and conversion from Thilina Weerasinghe and Chathura Senevirathne
Cautions & Send offs:
NAVY SC: Dinusha Fernando (Yellow)
