Army SC carried too many guns for the Police to handle and were beaten 17-11 in the Caltex A Division rugby game at Police Park yesterday.
The Army threes used the ball provided by their forwards with more purpose than their counterparts and the Army forwards were much faster to the breakdowns and far more superior in the loose. Army led 14-6 at the break.
Army started of much better than the cops and they were constantly in their opponents half with their three quarters executing some nice back line moves. But Police managed to get first points on the board when they were awarded a penalty and the Fly Half H. Wijeweera slotted over the kick.
Police seemed to be spurred on by this and they made some inroads deep in to the Army 22, but Army were quicker to the loose ball and some quick hands resulted in the Army Winger S.Handapangoda made a sizzling 60 meter run to score and Knowlton converted for Army to lead 7-3.
Police came back in to the game almost immediately when they were awarded a penalty within kicking range and Wijeweera added the 3 points for the score to stand at 7-6.
Police could have moved in to the lead at this stage but Wijeweera fluffed the penalty. Police were on the attack again when they lost a breakdown deep in the Army half which was picked up by the Army threes and some nice handling resulted in the ball reaching Handapangoda who showed good pace again to score.
Knowlton converted and the score read 14-6 to Army which remained the same until the break.
The Police Stand Off was replaced at this stage, which could have been due to some bad tactical kicking on his part.
The second half started the same way with Army setting up camp in the Police half and putting great pressure on the cops.
And they answered back in style when center P.Ekanayake sliced through the Army defence to score a much needed try, even though he failed to convert, the score stood at 14-11, Police edging closer. But Army managed to pull away with a crucial penalty which was struck through the uprights by Knowlton for Army to close down the game at 17-11.
Two players from each side were yellow carded for handbags at 10 paces.
Refree: Aruna Jayasekara.
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