Red-hot Navy Sports Club sparkled to victory, defeating an error-laden Police Sports Club, dumping the hosts at a 24-44 defeat in the Dialog Rugby League game played at Police Park.
Police made two changes for this crucial encounter as injured Janith Chanaka was replaced by Sujan Kodithuwakku as Adeesha Hadunpathirana dropped out for Nisal Samadh in the second row.
Meanwhile, visitors Navy made four changes, notably, the return of former skipper Yoshitha Rajapakse, making his comeback following a lapse of 5-years. Supun Peiris, Mushin Faleel and Samith Dananjaya were the others to return to the run-on XV.
It took the visitors just five minutes to get into the game as Chathura Senevirathne went over untouched as the Police defense was caught outnumbered in the near corner. Isuru Kongahawatta failed to add the extras as Navy got off the mark early on. (Police 00-05 Navy)
Kongahawatta made amends for the missed conversion as he nudged over a penalty from in front as the Police defense was penalized for rushing up too early. (Police 00-08 Navy)
It was all about Navy as the hosts were unable to get a foothold of proceedings.
Both wingers for Navy went over in the next few minutes as the visitors crippled the home team. Samith Dananjaya was the beneficiary as Adeesha Weerathunga made a scintillating break after the bounce of the ball went his way from a scrappy line-out.
Moments later Supun Dilshan scored from rather unusual close range as the winger went over for the third try for Navy as the Cops were stunned. Kongahawatta made no mistake with either conversion as the hosts conceded 20+ unanswered points. (Police 00-22 Navy)
Emotions boiled over from the home side as Vageesha Weerasinghe crashed over for the first points for the hosts.
The flanker found himself at the back of a maul as Police powered their way over for an unconverted try as Nalin Kumara failed from the tee. (Police 05-22 Navy)
The pattern of the day saw Navy run from deep as they put together a fast-paced brand of rugby.
This continued and it took the visitors just 35 minutes to secure the 4-try scoring bonus point. Mushin Faleel brought about a piece of individual brilliance as the sailors’ backline lit up proceedings. Kongahawatta’s solid performance from the boot continued as he pierced the posts to effectively knock police out of the reckoning. (Police 05-29 Navy)
Former Josephian Chathura Senevirathne powered his way through the Cops defense, leaving four defenders on the ground bumping off the final man to touch down as the flow of points continued for the visitors.
Stephan Gregory was sent to the bin as Police capitalized with Shan Akila going over the white-wash after the hooter.
The last two tries of the first half went unconverted as the Sailors went into lemons with a substantial lead.
Half Time: Police Sports Club 12 (2T 1C) trail Navy Sports Club 34 (5T 3C 1P)
Navy wasn’t able to keep up the tempo of the first half, however, the Cops were blown away from the first half showing as the hosts knew what they were coming up against in the second forty.
Police were able to get the first score in the second half; however, their discipline and defense were at sixers-and-sevens conceding right after scoring.
Rasith Silva was the scorer as the hooker bashed his way over from close range following some good build-up play from the home team.
Player of the Match, Mushin Faleel scored his second of the game running hard and straight through the Police defense, leaving the Cops in search of answers in how to put a stop to the flow of points.
Nalin Kumara and Isuru Kongahawatta made no mistakes with their first conversions of the second half as the hosts’ early score was equaled out by the Navy. (Police 19-41 Navy)
Police Sports Club scored their 4th try of the game only a consolation score as Muammar Deen was at hand to go over for the Cops even though the result was all but concluded by the 60th minutes of the game.
The home team was their own worst enemy as nothing went their way, not even the bounce of the ball.
Returning to the flanker Yoshitha Rajapakse won his team a penalty as Police were penalized for holding on at the breakdown. Kongahawatta did not hesitate, kicking over the 3-points to put a 20-point cushion between the two sides. (Police 24-44 Navy)
Both teams ran out of steam, Navy from attacking and Police from defending all game as neither managed to score in the final 15-minutes as the game drew to an end handing Police Sports Club their worst defeat of the season.
Full Time: Police Sports Club 24 (4T, 2C) lost to Navy Sports Club 44 (6T 4C 2P)
- Dialog Viu Player of Match: Mushin Faleel (Navy SC)
Points Breakdown:
Police: Vageesha Weerasinghe 1T, Shan Akila 1T, Rasith Silva 1T, Muammar Deen 1T, Nalin Kumara 2C
Navy: Chathura Senevirathne 2T, Samith Dananjaya 1T, Supun Dilshan 1T, Mushin Faleel 2T, Isuru Kongahawatta 4C 2P
Cautions: Stephan Gregory & Samith Dananjaya Yellow Card (Navy)
