Fijian power spurs Police
Police on the rampage against Army Pic by Amila Gamage
Police Sports Club spurred by the brilliance of Fijian Emosi Vunivosa outgunned Army Sports Club 47-31 in a free-flowing rugby encounter which produced end-to-end rugby at Police Park yesterday. The winners led 33-19 at the interval.
The ‘blue shirts’ earned their 11th bonus point in as many matches to leapfrog CR&FC into second position, scoring seven tries and six conversions while Army contributed to the try-fest, crossing the line five times and converting three of them.
It was not a heart-stopping thriller despite 12 tries being scored with both sides being guilty of failing to plug their defences though there were flashes of individual brilliance both Fijians Vunivosa and Tomasi Caqusa Ravouvou of Army while Police hooker Rasika Silva and flanker Vageesha Weerasinghe scored a brace.
Army set the game alight by drawing first blood in the third minute when Dhanuka Jeevan scored an unconverted try off a rolling maul.
Police asserted their authority by running the ball at every given turn to score twice in quick succession before the timeout. Vunivosa set left winger Kasun Rajakaruna on his way with a long pass from a scrum in the 10th minute while yielded under pressure after a clearance from Ashan Bandara was smothered and Rasith Silva crashed over after phased out attacks. Yohan Peiris added the extra points to give them a 14-5.
There was no respite for Army as Police counter attacked after Rajakaruna pounced on an extravagant pass from Tomasi with Vunivosa scything through the middle before scrum half Kasun Suranga cantered to score in the left corner in the 22nd minute for an uncoverted try to give Police a 19-5 cushion.
It was not all one-way traffic though as Army hit back despite having Lahiru Rathnayake in the sin bin when fly half Bandara made amends for his earlier blunder by slipping a brilliant short pass to Tomasi who powered his way through to score under the posts in the 26th minute. Chamath Fernando converted.
The best try of the match came in the 30th minute when Primesh Danushka put the finishing touches to a brilliant three quarter with Sachith Silva and Iroshan Silva showing lovely hands while Vunivosa made the initial break and was on hand to send Danushka over for their bonus-point try. Yohan Peiris who was in superb form with his line and goal kicking, added the extra points as Police led 26-12.
Army fought back once again to drive back Police who cracked under pressure for Tharindu Bandara to dive over from a ruck with Fernando converting but Police scored their fifth try from a rolling maul from a lineout through Rasith Silva shortly before halftime with Peiris making a superb touchline conversion.
Army showed they had fight left in them in the second half when Tomasi scored his second try with a powerful burst on the right three minutes after the turn around for an unconverted try.
Vageesha Weerasinghe scored his brace within the space of seven minutes, the second after a fine break by Suranga and breezing through on the left flank while Ashan Bandara continued the pattern of both sides trading tries by slicing inside to score in the 56th minute.
Referee – Ishanka Abeykoon
CH prevail over Airmen
CH&FC continued their resurgence with an impressive 26-17 bonus-point win over Air Force in another second round match at Racecourse grounds
Air Force drew first blood through a try by Lahiru Udayanga in the 16th minute.
CH surged ahead with two tries in quick succession through Prasath Madusanka and Kushan Indunil with Hirusha Sampath converting one try to enjoy a 12-5 lead at half time.
Chathura Dilshan scored their third in the 48th minute with Sampath adding the extra points.
Air Force pulled one back through Kavushal Manupriya in the 62nd minute.
CH’s Visha Kiriella was shown the red card in the 67th minute but they scored their fourth try minutes later through Ryan Weerakoon with Rohitha Rajapaksha adding the extra points.
Air Force managed to score a consolation try in the dying minutes of the game through Pathmasanka Weerasingha with Gayantha Iddamgoda converting.