Navy SC breached the Army SC’s Diyagama fortress when the front runners of the Dialog Club Rugby League 2013/14 started the 2nd round with a resounding 71-43 win over Army SC at Diyagama where Army hosted and won all their 1st round matches.
After the conclusion of the 1st round yesterday, The 2nd round got underway as the No.1 team from the 1st round points table took on the No.6 team on the current standings.
Army SC full back Rizvi Mohammed kicked off the game and the strong Navy outfit showed intent to win from the 1st move itself and the Fijian 7s superstar Stefano Cakau scored the 1st try of the evening when he easily manipulated the Army defence after a perfect loop pass from Chanaka Chandimal. Nuwan Hettiarachchi added the extra points. (Navy 07 – Army 00)
The Army showed their opponents how they can play attacking rugby when the home side made the visitor’s forwards make an infringement right in front of their posts with 7 minutes on the clock and the home team were awarded a penalty kick and Upali Wickramasinghe had no problems with the kick. (Navy 07 – Army 03)
The hard running Navy No.8 Mateaki Kafatolu found space through the Army defense in the 9th minute of the game to score the 2nd Navy try for the game. Nuwan Hettiarachchi added the conversion. (Navy 14 – Army 03)
The Navy forwards made Army forward’s life hard by giving a tough time in the set plays and the breakdowns and with less than 15 minutes on the clock. Eranga ‘Podi’ Swarnathilake barged over for another try to extend the lead. Nuwan Hettiarachchi bisected the posts with ease. (Navy 21 – Army 03)
Navy SC backline were having a field day with amazing runs down the flank to test the character and the tackling ability of Army SC backs but Army responded well with a well executed try scored by the Army SC wing three quarter Manoj Bandara with nearly 20 minutes on the clock. Upali Wickramasinghe converted. (Navy 21 – Army 10)
Mateaki Kafatolu scored his 2nd try for the game, the much needed ‘bonus point’ securing try for Navy SC in the 25th minute when he broke more than five Army tackles to score under the posts. Nuwan Hettiarachchi continued his good day with his trusted left boot. (Navy 28 – Army 10)
One of Sri Lanka’s brilliant wing three quarters presently Dinusha Chathuranga showed how valuable an asset he is for Navy and for Sri Lanka when he out-powered his opposing Army SC fijian wing three quarter by grabbing the ball from his grasp to score a brilliant try to put Navy too far ahead in the 1st half. Nuwan Hettiarachchi added the extra points. (Navy 35 – Army 10)
With less than 10 minutes to go for the half time whistle, Eranga ‘Podi’ Swarnathilake scored his 2nd try for the day when he completed a few attacking phases by Navy Forwards. Nuwan Hettiarachchi continued to keep his 100% record for this game with a well placed conversion. (Navy 42 – Army 10)
Two- try hero Mateaki Kafatolu was sin binned for a dangerous tackle in the 34th minute and Army grabbed the opportunity when Upul Abeyrathne scored the 2nd Army try but Upali Wickramasinghe missed the conversion. (Navy 42 – Army 15) Navy extended their lead to 30 points when Nuwan Hettiarachchi slanted a 30 meter penalty after Army line was caught offside. (Navy 45 – Army 15)
Army after conceding 6 tries in the 1st half went into the break scoring their 3rd try when Dilai Esava landed under the posts after Lalai Jalebula took a quick tap from a penalty Army received deep inside Navy half. Upali Wickramasinghe converted the try.
Half Time : Navy SC 45 – Army SC 22
After lemons, Army SC started the 2nd half in a stunning fashion when they scored two back to back tries courtesy Dilai Esava and Wasantha Costa inside 5 minutes in the 2nd half and Upali Wickramasinghe converted both tries reducing the Navy lead to just 9 points. Both tries were scored after Army continuously kept on pressing hard at the Navy defense. (Navy 45 – Army 36)
15 minutes of nail biting rugby was played after the break as the game was open to either side with only 9 points coming between the two teams but Navy held on to the strangle hold when Jason Dissanayake scored an excellent try after sprinting for 45 meters and Nuwan Hettiarachchi made the conversion. (Navy 52 – Army 36)
After 65 minutes of open flowing rugby, Navy SC scored their 8th try for the match when replacement full back Joeli Lutumailagi took a quick tap and went over the advantage line and gave his speedy wing three quarter Dinusha Chathuranga the oval shaped ball to score. Chanaka Chandimal made a superb conversion from a different angle. (Navy 59 – Army 36)
10 minutes were left before the final whistle and Army forwards finally got their act together and helped Dinesh Suranga to score from a driving maul which drove for more than 25 meters. Skipper Upali Wickramasinghe added the extra points. (Navy 59 – Army 43)
Both teams played a game of pleasing rugby football game throughout the game and Joeli Lutumailagi scored his 1st and Navy’s 9th try in the 75th minute after Rizvi Mohammed made a tactical passing error. Chanaka Chandimal missed the conversion. (Navy 64 – Army 43)
Dominant Navy SC who are firm favorites to win the Dialog Club Rugby League this season finished off their Diyagama Army Fortress assignment when Danushka ‘Gertha’ Perera touched down the 10th Navy try after Joeli Lutumailagi found space near the left corner flag to run down and passed to Jone Avokia Vota but he simply gave Danushka ‘Gertha’ Perera their power horse flanker to touch down and end another outstanding game of rugby where Navy SC continued to keep their ‘Unbeaten’ tag intact. Chanaka Chandimal converted the last try.
Full Time : Navy SC 71 – Army SC 43
Navy SC will have their work cut out in the coming weeks when they will confront much tough and challenging teams in the title race but Army SC played their hearts out to put up a strong performance against the marauding Navy outfit as the 2nd round also called as the ‘Cup’ tournament of the Dialog Club Rugby League 2013/14 started with a 114 points entertainer.
