Unbeaten Airmen drown Sailors to take table lead
Air Force SC stormed to the top of the Maliban-SLR Club Rugby League points table with a convincing 28-14 victory over Navy SC, their third consecutive, at Ratmalana yesterday. The Airmen took full control early, leading 18-0 at halftime, and scored from three tries, two conversions and three penalties to reach 28 points. The Sailors scored from two converted tries for their 14 points.
The scoreboard opened in the 22nd minute when flyhalf and skipper Gayantha Iddamalgoda slotted an easy 10-metre penalty, giving Air Force a 3-0 lead. Six minutes later, winger Maleesha Weerakoon crossed for the first try in the mid-left channel, with Iddamalgoda converting to extend the lead to 10-0. Hooker Shamika Kaushan added a second try for Air Force in the 36th minute; although the conversion was missed, as the home team led 15-0. A penalty three minutes later made it 18-0 at halftime, leaving the Airmen sitting pretty.
Air Force totally dominated in their own backyard against a struggling Navy SC side
After the break, Navy SC centre Chirantha Kaluarachchi touched down in the left corner six minutes in, and experienced fullback Thilina Weerasinghe executed a stunning conversion, cutting the gap to 18-7. Air Force responded in the 64th minute when Iddamalgoda added a penalty to make it 21-7.
The match saw a moment of tension when a red card was shown to a Navy rugby official for offside in the 50th minute. Navy’s No.8 Isuru Perera scored from a loose ball in the 68th minute, with Weerasinghe converting to bring the Sailors within seven points at 21-14. Air Force sealed the win in the 76th minute with a decisive try, converted by Iddamalgoda, pushing the final score to 28-14 to remain unbeaten after three outings.