Havelocks and Navy continue to top points table

By Shamseer Jaleel 

CR kicked off the second round of the club rugby league in grand style when they outclassed Air Force 34-22 in Ratmalana last weekend.

CR, after leading 17-10 at halftime, cut loose in the latter half to pile up the points. They continue to occupy fourth position in the league. Number 8 Omalka Gunaratne and winger Kavindu Perera played their hearts out. The tries for Air Force were scored by Gayantha Iddamalgoda, Patabedige and Ishara Madushan. Nuwan Perera converted one try while the Red Shirts scored their tries through Kavindu Perera (2), Omalka Gunaratne, Bhanuka Nananayakkara and Kokila Sammandeperuma with Prince Chamara taking the conversions. 

 

Havelocks outclass CH

Havelocks continued to lead the league when they outclassed last-placed CH&FC 80-3 in a one-sided affair. At halftime they led 45-0. They were playing without Niroshan Fernando, Sudharshan Muthuthanthri and Sharo Fernando. In the end Havelocks went on to plant 12 tries in this game with CH unable to even conjure up a single try. Havies’ tries were scored by Chamara Dabare, Udara Anjana, Vimukthi Rahula, Rahul De Silva, Kevin Dixon, Nisho Perera, Dulaj Perera (2), Janik Jayasuriya (2). Dulaj, who had a grand outing, converted 10 of 12 tries.

Navy continued to hold on to top position along with Havelocks with a 41-21 bonus point win over Police in their encounter which was even in the first half before the home team made a remarkable recovery in the last 20 minutes to seal the game and keep their title hopes alive. At halftime the cops led 11-7. For the Sailors, Dinusha Fernando, Chanaka Chandimal, Dulanjan Wijesinghe, Suranga Pushpakumara, Dhanushka Perera and Thilina Weerasinghe scored the tries with the latter converting four and putting over one penalty to continue his fine form with the boot as the leading point scorer in club rugby. For Police, rock solid Number 8 Radheesha Senaratne scored twice while Gayan Udara touched down once. Sansoni converted two of the tries and put over a penalty.

 

Kandy outclass Army

Kandy continued their dominance at home when they outclassed a gutsy Army outfit 50-19. From the kickoff Kandy looked a yard faster and played as a well-organised unit. They were back on track for the title and hungry to prove that they were the best in the league. 

Other than a stretch early in the second half when the soldiers looked like making a comeback, Kandy dominated proceedings in their packed home stadium. 

The usually powerful three quarter line was well supported by the forwards with the inclusion of the young blood of Yakoob Ali who had a grand outing along with Sayuru Anthony. In the three quarter line as usual Centre Dhanushka Ranjan looked dangerous in attack along with an inspired Nigel Ratwatte, who is playing his first game since being injured. Richard Dharmapala had an average game, making a number of mistakes.

Kandy scored through Roshan Weeraratne (2), Uchitha Jayasuriya (2), Richard Dharmapala, Damith Dissnayake, Sayuru Anthony and Shehan Pathirana with Thilina Wijesinghe converting five of the six tries while Jamaldeen missed two conversions. For Army, skipper Manoj Silva, Ashoka Jayalal and Thushith Senanayake touched down with full back Salinda converting two of the tries.

With these wins Havelocks and Navy remain in the top slots, closely followed by Kandy, who trail them by a single point. Kandy will need to win all their remaining matches.