Navy smash Police convincingly
Sri Lanka Navy were in smashing form as they downed Police by 29 points (4 Tries, Three Goals and a Penalty) to 13 (One Try, One Goal and Two Penalties) in the Dialog A Division league second rugby encounter played at the Navy ground in Welisara yesterday. Navy led 22-6 at the breather. In the first round game the Sailors recorded a 64-24 win over the Policemen.
Referee Irshad Cader had a tight control of the game and awarded threeYellow Cards for the Navy and one to the Police.
Action from the Navy-Police game at Welisara - Pic by Anuradha Bandara
Navy were right on top and they showed their superiority in the fourth minute itself when No.8 Nawari Eramasi scored by the left corner flag and full back Nuwan Hettiarachchi made sure of the conversion to put the Sailors ahead at 7-0.
In the 12th minute Police fly half Richard Lawson put over a 52 meter penalty to cut down the Navy lead to 3-7. Soon afterwards Police scored again when Richard Lawson converted a penalty to further reduce the Sailors lead to a slender 6-7.
With the tide rising against them Navy tried all the tricks of the trade and in the 33rd minute their foreign player Number 8 Nawari Eramasi scored his second try and Nuwan Hettiarachchi failed with the conversion. Navy 15. Police 6.
Nuwan Hettiarachch was successful with a 45 meter conversion next to give the Sailors a 15-6 lead. One minute before the breather Navy’s foreign player Naikasau Leo, playing at center, touched down and Nuwan Hettiarachchi made the easy conversion to make it 22-6 in favour of the Sailors.
Unwarranted play entered the game and referee Irshad Cader red carded Navy pro forward Henry Terrence and Police fullback and ordered them to the Sin Bin.
Police kept on fighting and Radeesha Seneviratne scored enabling Apisai Naqaliva to convert and Navy led 22-13. Navy kept up the pressure and in the 60th minute Achala Perera scored mid left and Nuwan Hettiarachchi made sure of the conversion to put Navy firmly in the lead at 29-13.
In the dying moments of the game referee Irshad Cader showed a Yellow Card to center Lee Keegal of the Navy.