Havelock SC staged an outstanding performance to beat Upcountry Lions by 29-25 points in their own den at Nawalapitiya Jayathilake Stadium in the penultimate week of the Dialog Club Rugby League 2013/14.
Havelock SC classed lesser performer on the road needed to put up an impressive display of rugby before their key clash against the unbeaten Navy SC next week.
Upcountry Lions captain Srinath Sorriyabandara kicked off the game on an excellent day for open rugby. Both teams showed untidiness during the first few minutes as players were having handling issues and communication errors. Upcountry Lions drew first blood in the 5th minute of the game when Nigel Ratwatte bisected the posts faultlessly after Havelocks were penalized for an infringement on a breakdown. (Lions 03 – Havies 00)
Nigel Ratwatte put over another superb 45 meter penalty attempt after a scrum error by the Havelocks front row in the 12th minute. (Lions 06 – Havies 00)
Upcountry Lions extended their lead in the 24th minute when Joe Raikabula scored a brilliant push over try after a scintillating line break by Buwaneka ‘Bulldozer’ Udangamuwa. Nigel Ratwatte added the extra points. (Lions 13 – Havies 00)
Defending champions were making sinful errors in breakdowns and the scrappiness of their forwards cost them points scoring territorial advantage. Upcountry Lions forwards were mobile and their backs were impeccable in defense and in attack.
Havelocks finally got their 1st points on the board when Henry Terrance scored a barging try off a strong driving maul. The maul was initiated after Niroshan Fernando thumped the ball down to the Upcountry Lions 22’ meter territory from a penalty kick. Joe Brown missed the conversion. (Lions 13 – Havies 05)
Havies reduced the deficit on brink of the half time whistle when super talented Dhanushka Ranjan fended off a few Lion’s defenders to score near the corner flag after his skipper Sudarshan Muthuthanthri broke the Lions defense to gain over the advantage line. Joe Brown converted superbly as Referee Irshad Cader blew the half time whistle to end an exhilarating 40 minutes of sublime Sri Lankan club rugby.
Half Time : Upcountry Lions 13 – Havelock SC 12
After the 10 minute break, Havelock SC’s foreign center three quarter Joe Brown restarted the game and soon found the Havelocks usual rhythm in place as their half backs fed the ball perfectly to their speedy three quarters to run down the flank but a good cover defensive work was done by the Upcountry Lions defenders. Upcountry Lions place kicker Nigel Ratwatte missed two penalty attempts from similar positions in the 46th and 48th minute of the game which could have easily extended the Lions lead going into the business end of the match.
Havelock SC came into the lead for the first time during this game when veteran full back Mohammed Sheriff touched down in the 55th minute. Sheriff’s try was made possible when Havelocks managed to win a line out in their half and the ball was quickly given to the back line where William Hakalo’s superb long cut out found speedster Sandun Herath who gained few meters before he kicked it down the park to let Sheriff chase down and score Havelock’s 3rd try of the match. William Hakalo added the extra points. (Lions 13 – Havies 19)
The home team kept on pursuing a surprise win when they hit back strongly in the 58th minute when hooker Arun Kumar barged over for a stunning try after a brilliant pass received from Penniasi Tokaaeci. Nigel Ratwatte failed to add the extra points. (Lions 18 – Havies 19)
Soon after Havelock extended their slim 1 point lead to 4 points when William Hakalo booted over a penalty kick in the 65th minute of the game. (Lions 18 – Havies 22)
Havelock SC took the game out of Upcountry Lions reach when Chamara Dabare intercepted a loose pass from Tevita Taufei and sprinted away for 65 meters to score the bonus point try for the visitors in the 70th minute of the game. William Hakalo succeeded with the conversion. (Lions 18 – Havies 29)
Sri Lanka’s 7s sensation Srinath Sooriyabandara worked his magic in the 75th minute to score a nippy try as Upcountry Lions came into the contention once again. Srinath Sooriyabandara converted his own superb try. (Lions 25 – Havies 29)
Fitness and strength levels were tested in the final few moments of the game where either team could have been victorious but referee Irshad Cader blew the long final whistle when the score board was in favor of the defending champions. Upcountry Lions played a good brand of rugby but they failed to stop the sublime Havelock SC outfit from registering another win.
Final Score : Upcountry Lions 25 – Havelock SC 29
ThePapare Man of the Match – Sudharshan Muthuthanthri
