Jone Avokia Vota scored a hat-trick of tries in the 2nd half to propel the front runners of the Dialog Club Rugby league, Navy SC to finish the 1st round on an unbeaten note when they beat Hambanthota Sharks 43-6 at Welisara Navy grounds today.
Hambanthota Sharks center Failanga Afamasage kicked off the game on sunny and bright conditions for running rugby. Navy SC fielding a partially 2nd string team resting few of their key players attacked ferociously from the 1st move itself and Navy SC’s gigantic Japanese Center Alisi Tupuilai showed his prowess in the 5th minute of the game when he scored their 1st try of the game fending off several defenders in a power packed 50 meter run. Tinani Ilai missed the conversion. ( Navy 05 – Sharks 00 )
Sharks were awarded a penalty for an infringement made by Navy in a ruck in the 7th minute but Failanga Afamasage’s kick went astray. Hambanthota Sharks kicking duties were given to their reliable skipper Dev Anand in the 12th minute when Navy SC defenders were caught offside. Dev Anand bisected the posts brilliantly to reduce the Navy SC lead to just 2 points. ( Navy 05 – Sharks 03 )
Navy SC were off color in their attacking plays as they lost possession and territory to the visiting team at regular and important times and Dev Anand made them pay in the 21st minute of the 1st half when he slanted a penalty kick to get into the lead sending shock waves into the Navy team. ( Navy 05 – Sharks 06 )
Navy SC were playing a very poor game during the 1st half without having an organized plan to attack the Sharks backline while Sharks played a very brave game as they defended tirelessly and were superb in breakdowns. Both Hookers were throwing crocked throws throughout the game and line outs were not pleasing to watch.
As the game neared the half time whistle, Sharks kept on piling up the pressure to prevent the strong Navy SC team from scoring anymore during this half with Dev Anand’s tactical touch kicks keeping Navy SC at bay throughout the 40 minutes of play. The referee blew the half time whistle with scores remaining the same at Welisara with Hambanthota Sharks in the lead.
Half Time : Navy SC 05 – Hambanthota Sharks 06
After lemons, Navy players took the field expecting to put behind their dismal 1st half performance and put up a strong match winning 2nd half performance and for a better cause Navy SC think-tank replaced Alisi Tupuilai with Jone Avokia Vota in the break. Navy SC showed intent of winning from the 1st minute itself as they made their way to a 5 meter line out deep inside Sharks territory and Navy hooker Dulanjan Wijesinghe made no mistake this time around with the throw to allow a well-organized driving maul to push over for a try by Billal Hassen. Tinani Ilai missed the conversion. ( Navy 10 – Sharks 06 )
Navy SC showed no respite to the visiting team when they made Shark’s mistakes count when Jone Avokia Vota scored his 1st try for the evening in the 47th minute. Chanaka Chandimal made no mistake with the conversion. ( Navy 17 – Sharks 06 )
The Navy SC were a different side in the 2nd half with their team combining well to attack the Sharks defense on countless occasions and the man of the match Jone Avokia Vota scored his 2nd try in the 55th minute after he broke few lazy tackles made by tired Sharks defenders to run away and score under the posts. Chanaka Chandimal added the extra points. ( Navy 24 – Sharks 06 )
As the game progressed to the last 20 minutes of the game with Navy already securing the bonus point, Navy tested their bench to give them maximum exposure going into the 2nd round of this much hyped and exciting Dialog Club Rugby League 2013/14. Joeli Lutumailagi speeded up the try scoring spree for the hosts in the 65th minute when he touched down under the posts giving a clear advantage over the Sharks outfit. Chanaka Chandimal made the conversion. ( Navy 31 – Sharks 06 )
Hambanthota Sharks made most of the errors in the 2nd half and gave away possession to the Navy SC several times as the team from down south lacked intensity to win in the 2nd half after displaying top class rugby in the 1st half. Jone Avokia Vota completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute when Navy SC worked a perfect set move play and gave the big built Fijian the space to touch down. Joeli Lutumailagi converted the try. ( Navy 38 – Sharks 06 )
Navy SC completed a brilliant 2nd half rally when prop forward Eranga Swarnathilake barged over for the final try in the dying moments in this opening game of the 9th week of Dialog Club Rugby League 2013/14. Chanaka Chandimal missed the conversion as Referee A.C Tennakoon blew the final whistle to finish another game where Navy SC ended as the winner.
Hambanthota Sharks showed glimpses of a surprise win in the 1st half but Navy SC came back strongly to end their 1st round with 9 wins out of 9 matches to maintain their unbeaten tag.
Full Time : Navy SC 43 – Hambanthota Sharks 06
