Navy smash Air Force
Navy SC recorded a smashing 40 points (5 goals and 1 try) to 20 (2 goals and 2 penalties) victory over Air Force in their Dialog ‘A’ Division League Rugby Second Round encounter played at the Navy ground at Welisara yesterday. Navy led 21-20 at the breather.
Navy centre Setefano Cacau blazes past two Airmen as fullback Nuwan Hettiarachchi follow closely for support - Pic by Amila Gamage
Air Force took an early lead when fly half Nuwan Perera put over an easy penalty to put them ahead at 3-0. Navy took the lead in the ninth minute when hooker Dulanjana Wijesinghe scored mid left and full back Nuwan Hettiarachchi converted to put Navy ahead at 7-3. Air Force fought back with great ferocity and Jero Dananjaya scored for the Airmen which was converted by Nuwan Perera and Air Force forged into the lead at 10-7.
In the 18th minute of the game Nizam Jamaldeen showed the yellow card to Navy flanker Sharo Fernando and Air Force fly half Nuwan Perera converted it to put Air Force further ahead at 13-7.
Navy winger, the fleet footed Vishvamitra Jayasinghe, blazed through next to score by the left corner flag and Nuwan Hettiarachchi converted to put the scores level at 14-14.
Soon afterwards Navy link man Richi Dharmapala touched down and Nuwan Hettiarachchi added the extra points enabling Navy to lead 21-13.
Three minutes before the short whistle Air Force centre Soorya Krishan scored and Nuwan Perera converted and Navy went into lemons with a wafer thin 21-20 lead.
Navy dominated the second half. In the 50th minute Navari Eramasi of Fijii scored and Nuwan Hettiarachchi was successful with the conversion. Navy 28. Air Force 20.
In the 54th minute Navy’s reserve player prop forward Henry Terrence barged through off a five yards scrum to fall over for a try. Navy led 35-20 at this stage.
Nizam Jamaldeen who kept a tight grip on the game gave a Red Card to Navy Flanker Sharo Fernando. In the dying minutes of the game Navy centre Dinusha Fernando scored and Navy took the game at 40-20.