Navy Sports Club finally ended their long winless streak with a hard-fought 41-38 victory over Sri Lions in a thrilling encounter at Racecourse Stadium. In their final game of the Mastercard Inter-Club ‘A’ Division Rugby League 2024/25 Plate Segment, the Sailors showed resilience and determination, securing their first win in two years.
The two bottom-placed teams faced off in their final league game as Sri Lions hosted the winless Navy outfit. The visitors started strong, opening the scoring with an easy penalty slotted in by Thilina Weerasinghe after an offside infringement. Navy then capitalised on their momentum, executing a rolling maul that pushed them towards the try line. After a series of pick-and-drives, scrum-half Hashan Madumadawa sent a crisp pass to center Dimuth Perera, who powered through the Sri Lions’ defense to score the opening try. Weerasinghe added the extras, extending Navy’s early lead. (Sri Lions 00-10 Navy)
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Sri Lions responded immediately, launching an attack from a scrum inside the 22-meter line. Utilising their backs, they created space and earned a penalty. Lock forward Denuwan Silva took a quick tap and charged forward, only to be stopped inches short. However, No. 8 Mohamed Nizran followed up with a strong carry, overpowering the defenders to cross the line, with Chanaka Chandimal slotting the conversion to level the scores. (Sri Lions 07-10 Navy)
Despite conceding, Navy maintained their attacking mindset. From a lineout just outside the 22-meter line, Denuwan Wickramarachchi collected the ball and offloaded to scrum-half Madumadawa, who spotted a gap near the sideline and sprinted through it, surprising the defense to score Navy’s second try. Weerasinghe’s accurate boot added the conversion. (Sri Lions 07-17 Navy)
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Navy struck again from a scrum at the halfway mark, executing a well-planned backs’ move. Playmaker Chirantha Kaluarachchi sent a perfectly timed pass to Dimuth Perera, who drew in multiple defenders before offloading to his center partner Saviru Nimsika, allowing him to dive over in the left corner. Weerasinghe once again converted with precision, further stretching Navy’s lead. (Sri Lions 07-24 Navy)
Sri Lions refused to back down, steadily building attacking pressure through their forwards. Winning a penalty, they took a quick tap, allowing Chandimal to feed Denuwan Silva for another powerful surge. Once again, Nizran finished the move with a determined carry, scoring his second try, while Chandimal successfully converted. (Sri Lions 14-24 Navy)
However, Navy responded immediately. Madumadawa capitalised on a turnover near the 50-meter line, darting through the ruck before sprinting down the sideline for an electrifying 50-meter try, leaving Sri Lions’ defenders helpless. (Sri Lions 14-29 Navy)
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Despite the setback, Sri Lions stayed in the contest. A dominant scrum five meters from the try line forced a turnover, and Nizran pounced on the loose ball to complete his hat-trick. Chandimal nailed a difficult conversion, cutting the deficit. (Sri Lions 21-29 Navy)
However, Navy had the final say in the first half. Center Dimuth Perera launched a long pass to winger Chanaka Jayalath, who broke away from the 45-meter mark before being stopped near the 5-meter line. Navy patiently recycled the ball through their forwards before Apoorwa Wijesinghe shrugged off multiple defenders to crash over the whitewash, sealing a dominant first half for the sailors.
Half Time: Sri Lions 21 (3T,3C) – Navy SC 34 (5T,3C,1P)
The Sri Lions started the second half with renewed energy and wasted no time making an impact. From a well-executed five-meter lineout, they set up a powerful rolling maul, allowing hooker Dushmantha Priyadarshana to crash over for a try, capping off a perfect start to the half. (Sri Lions 26-34 Navy)
Navy struggled to settle into the second half as the Sri Lions continued their attacking momentum. They struck again from a center scrum near the five-meter line, where Anuradha Silva set up fullback Dilshan Madushanka to slice through the Navy defense for a first-phase try. Chandimal added another successful conversion, bringing the game to within a single point. (Sri Lions 33-34 Navy)
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With the momentum firmly on their side, Sri Lions looked dangerous in attack. Their intent was evident when Chandimal danced past a defender and sent center Raban Mathir through a gap. Mathir carried the ball past the 22-meter line before delivering a pinpoint cut-out pass to winger Praneeth Silva, who dived over in the corner—giving Sri Lions their first lead of the match. (Sri Lions 38-34 Navy)
After 35 minutes without a breakthrough, Navy finally found their rhythm. Taking a quick tap penalty, they launched a relentless assault on the Sri Lions’ defense, using their forwards to drive through several phases of pick-and-go plays. Their persistence paid off as they won another penalty, which they quickly shifted to playmaker Chirantha Kaluarachchi. He powered through two defenders before fending off the last man to score the decisive try. Thilina Weerasinghe slotted the conversion, sealing Navy’s long-awaited victory—ending a two-year drought since their last win in the 2023 Clifford Cup Semi Final against Army.
Full Time: Sri Lions 38 (6T,4C) – Navy SC 41 (6T,4C,1P)
Swisstek Player of the Match: Thilina Weerasinghe (Navy SC)
Points Breakdown
Sri Lions 38
Mohamed Nizran 3T, Dushmantha Priyadarshana 1T, Dilshan Madushanka 1T, Praneeth Silva 1T, Chanaka Chandimal 4C
Navy SC 41
Dimuth Perera 1T, Hashan Madumadawa 2T, Saviru Nimsika 1T, Apoorwa Wijesinghe 1T, Chirantha Kaluarachchi 1T, Thilina Weerasinghe 4C,1P
