Dialog ‘A’ Division Inter-Club Rugby review - Week 13

CH stunned Havies

By Jason Perera

CH and FC's win over table leaders Havelock Sports club outfit was the highlight of the four matches played in the Dialog League inter-club rugby tournament last weekend. CH scored a stunning 40-33 win at Race Course grounds in Colombo.

It was the Maitland Crecent forwards who gave a scintillating display under the leadership of  National captain Sudarshana Muthuthanttri. Their three quarters excelled in both attack and defence gaining territorial advantage creating problems among the Havies three quarters who failed to play to their potential due to reasons best known to their coaching staff. Centre Dinuk Amarasinghe and Co-Centre Iranga Ariyapala could not turn out for Havelocks in this game due to injuries. Young Australian star performer cum CH and FC centre Adam Gauder, co- centre Hirantha Perera and Samuel Maduwantha scored one try each along with Sri Lanka national scrum half Sudam Sooriarachchi who scored two brilliant tries shocked the entire crowd present with their dazzling runs as well as their footwork and defence. Full back Maduwantha also slotted in three conversions as well as three penalties scoring 20 points in total in this game taking his total tally to over 150 points in this ongoing league rugby tournament.

Prop Dushmantha Priyadarshana, former Royalist winger Chamara Dabare, hooker Azmir Fajudeen and flanker Shawket Lahir scored one try apiece while scrum half Mithun Hapugoda also chipped in with a try.Full back Riza Mubarak made four Conversions. All above players

played a good game for the Park club team.

Navy beat Air Force 18-17

Navy Sports Club who got their act together finally got over a fighting Air Force sports club outfit edging them out by 18-17 at Navy grounds in Welisara.

Sailors under the guidance of veteran rugby coach Mothilal Jayathilake got their momentum going through their forwards together with their three quarters combining effectively to score this superb victory. Captain Thilina Weerasighe led the way with scoring the opening try while Buddhima Piyarathna and Viraj Perera touched down one try each. Chathura Senevirathne also contributed for the Sailors by putting over the match winning penalty last minute that came his way.

Air Force after leading 6-5 at half time came very close to beat the Navy SC but lost in the dying stages of the game due to conseding a penalty. Their only try was scored by Parakrama Ratnayake with Penalties coming through Charith Senevirathna (two) and  Gayantha Iddamalgoda (one) while Soorya Krishan fired across a neat drop goal.  

Kandy really lucky to beat CR

Defending champs Kandy Sports Club were really lucky to beat a fighting CR & FC outfit by 31-26 in their league rugby clash that took place at CR grounds in Longden Place.

Kandy forwards could not play their normal game thereby got everything wrong and were a confused bunch of lads and it was no surprise that they won the game in the end due to a first half rally.

Hero for Kandy outfit was none other than their national full back Thilina Wijesinghe who has put over four Conversions and a solitary Penalty.

Kandy SC's tries were scored by Shehan Pathirana, Anuradha Wilware, Uchitha Jayasuriya and Roshan Weerarathne. 

CR & FC centre and former Royal College player Janindu Dilshan (who scored a brilliant try out running Richard Darmapala, Danushka Ranjan and Thilina Wijesinghe) stood out from the rest by creating the opportunities for red shirts by punching holes at the Kandy defence many a times. But the three quarters didn't play to their potential, either bundle in to touch or lack support from the other three quarters to finish the move by scoring. Scrum half Rahul de Silva played a below par game but his replacement young 19 year old former Isipathana player Harith Bandara had an outstanding game coming in to the field in the second half. Replacement flanker Wajid Fawmy scored the other try with fly half Stephen Sivaraj four penalties and replacement fly half Tharinda Ratwatte two conversions scored together 16 points for the CR & FC outfit.

Police held Army to a 24 all draw

Police Sports Club after leading, let Army scored a try in the last minute to come from behind to create a 24 all draw at Air force grounds in Ratmalana. It was a mixture of their forwards and three quarters that enabled the soldiers to pulled off a draw from no where.

The men responsible for scoring Police's points were Lahiru Pavithra one try, Udaya Sanjula two tries, Sachith Silva one try and full back Sachith Silva and fly half Yohan Perera was on target with their boot giving some very important points for them. Fijian Sosivita Boila, Ashoka Jayalal, Kasun Maduranga and Sameera Bulathsinhala scored a try each while Gayan Salinda put over two conversions for the fighting Army.

Points Table After - 13 weeks

Pos  Team      P      W      L      D     T      Pts    BP    Total

1      Kandy     13   11      2      0     62    55     12       67

2      Havies    13   11      2      0     60    55     11       66

3      CH&FC   13     9      4       0    48    45     12       57

4      CR&FC   13     6       6      1     45    33       8      41

5      Army      13     5       6      2    41     31      5       36

6      Navy       13     4      9       0    45    20     12      32

7      Police     13     3      9       1    42    18       9      27

8      Airmen  13     1     12      0    32      5       6       11