No rugby fanatic could have asked for a better way to kickstart the season opener as the Havelock Sports Club hosted the Navy Sports Club at Havelock Park on Friday (14), where the true spirit of playing till the last whistle was seen as the game ended in an enthralling 31-all draw with both teams bagging bonus points.
Half-time: Navy SC 24-10 Havelock SC
At the stroke of half-time, Havelocks were reduced to 14 men as Udesh Madushanka was sent off (red card) for dangerous play. Havies pulled off a great comeback in the second essay. For almost 70 minutes Navy led the game, but 21 unanswered points from Havies put them under tremendous pressure.
Havelocks forwards did most of the hard work. Seasoned campaigner Thilina Weerasinghe pulled off a monstrous drop goal attempt from the halfway mark but unfortunately missed by a whisker.
Havies finally took the lead through a masterstroke 50-22, which came off nippy halfback Mohammed Rifan and paved the path for his team to almost seal the deal with a try.
However, there was a twist in the tale at the very last gasp of the game as Navy scored in semi-darkness with Isuru Kongahawatta slotting over the conversion to put the cherry on top and tie their season opener, sending out a warning to all teams that the sailors are no more a pushover side.
Full-time: Navy SC 31-31 Havelock SC
CH beat cops in one-sided affair
CH & FC started off their campaign under newly appointed Head Coach Rohitha Rajapaksa on a positive note as they ran over Police Sports Club 29-5 at the Colombo Race Course on Friday (14). At half-time, the hosts CH led 22-0.
PHOTOS LALITH PERERA
Be the first to comment