(UTV|COLOMBO) – Havelocks Sports Club seem to thrive away home getting their campaign back on track in a first round clash of the Dialog Clug Rugby League Championship 2019/20 with an impressive 27-13 win over CH & FC at Racecourse stadium yesterday.
CR & FC continued their winning streak with an emphatic 35-17 win over Air Force at Ratmalana.
CR scored five tries through Harith Bandara, Rehan Weerakoon, Janidu Dilshan, skipper Omalka Gunaratne and Gemunu Chetiya, all of which were goaled by Rizah Mubarak.
Air Force scored three tries with Fijian Tuteovuya James getting a brace while Gayantha Iddamangoda converted one of them.
The Havies shrugged off their disappointing loss to Police last week, getting their points through four tries, two conversions and a penalty to which CH replied with two tries and a penalty.
Both sides ran with the ball in perfect conditions underfoot and bright sunshine but Havelocks were more pacier than their counterparts with skipper Mithun Hapugoda serving good ball from the base.
The heavier CH pack held an edge in the scrums but Havelocks managed to secure clean ball from the line outs through Lasindu Karunathilake.
Havelocks were in control in the first half opening their account with a fifth minute penalty from Prince Chamara who also converted a try by prop Charana Chamikara to lead 10-0 after 14 minutes of play during which CH lost Sajith Saranga was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.
CH skipper Rohitha Rajapaske was successful with his first kick at goal in the 19th minute but was off target with a couple more attempts.
The best try of the match came in the 27th minute when centre Randy Silva hared across over 50 metres on the left flank in a classic counter attack from their own ‘22’ after CH were caught out by a long pass for Havelocks to go into the interval with a 15-3 cushion.
CH enjoyed their best passage of play after the turnaround when Rajapakse made way for Arshad Jamaldeen among other changes. Jamaldeen’s slick passes and superb line kicks infused more dynamism to the backline.
Winger Hashan Maduranga eased over the right flank for CH’s first try with the second half just over two minutes old as Havelocks felt the loss of skipper Hapugoda who was sent to the sin bin at just before the break.
However, Havelocks hit back quickly with a phased out attack which saw Azmir Fajudeen playing like a three quarter to give a slick pass for full back Chamara to slice inside for a superb try. CH closed the gap to 13-20 being rewarded for some excellent forward play by the flankers ending in a corner flag try by winger Nishon Perera.
Havelocks turned on the heat thereafter spurning penalty kicks at goal to seal victory with a bonus-point try through hooker Azmir Fajudeen two minutes before the final whistle. (AO)
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