Havelocks SC came out winners by beating defending champions Navy SC with a thrilling 18 – 10 win in a low scoring game at Welisara.
The game was kicked off from the boot of Dulaj Perera on a sunny evening (4.30pm) at Welisara Navy grounds.
Havies began brightly as they got the better of Navy in the first exchanges of the game. All the early pressure had an effect on the Navy forwards as they were made to work hard. The visitors took the lead in the 13th minute of the game when Dushmantha Priyadarshana scored off a rolling maul. Dulaj Perera failed to add the extras as the score remained at 5 nil in favour of Havies. (Navy 00-05 Havies)
Havies carried the momentum forward and extended their lead as Navy were penalized for holding on (not releasing the ball). Dulaj Perera stepped up and slotted home from 30 meters away on the angle. With this the lead was extended further. (Navy 00-08 Havies)
Navy finally got themselves in the game as they managed to score off a scrum. No.8 Fuapau Halafihi broke on the blind side and passed the ball to winger Dinusha Fernando, who chipped the ball to the opposition Fullback Mithun Hapugoda. Mithun made a hash of the high ball as it slipped off his hands to speedster Vishvamithra Jayasinghe. Vishva made a mad dash and dived over beside the left upright to register Navy SC’s first score of the game. Riza Mubarak failed to convert the try. (Navy 05-08 Havies)
On the close of half time Navy had a golden opportunity to level the game but Riza Mubarak dragged the kick wide to end the first half.
Half time: Navy 05 (1T) vs Havis 08 (1T, 1P)
Navy kicked off the second half and started the half more fluently than the first. Navy did not make use of the momentum as they did not manage to register any points within that period as the Havies defence held firm.
The first points in the second half came for Havies as No.8 Jaufa Sione broke from a scrum and worked the ball to Dhanushka Ranjan as he stepped and fended of Lee Keegel and crashed beside the left upright to extend Havies lead to 10 points. Dulaj added the extras. (Navy 05-15 Havies)
Navy managed to score their second try of the game as they worked the ball from a well constructed maul and found Leo Naikasau at the end of it to score in the near corner to add some respectability to the score line. Riza missed the conversion. (Navy 10-15 Havies)
Dulaj Perera rounded off a good day for Havies when he nailed a penalty as Navy SC were penalized for obstruction. (Navy 10-18 Havies)
Full Time: Havies 18 (2T, 1C, 2P) beat Navy 10 (2T)
A scuffle broke out between the teams which also involved the referee and the photographs taken by ThePapare.com were forcibly deleted and once again ThePapare.com crew who serve the sport of rugby so diligently were harassed and intimidated at Welisara.
