Havelocks overpower Army
Despite being heavily challenged by Army Sports Club, Havelocks Sports Club maintained their composure to complete a 41-12 victory in their SLR–Maliban Club Rugby League 2025/26 match at Havelock Park yesterday. Havies had already signalled their intentions by half time, leading 34-0 after scoring six of their seven tries and adding three conversions.
Fullback Yehan Bulathsinhalage opened the scoring with a try in the far left corner in the fourth minute. This was followed by two identical tries from No.8 Chathura Dilshan, who finished off two well executed forward moves in the ninth and 15th minutes. Bulathsinhalage converted one of three attempts as the home side moved to a 17-0 lead. After a few failed efforts, hooker Azmir Fajudeen broke through the Army defence to score an unconverted try in the 20th minute, soon followed by a dashing effort from winger Janindu Wijeratne two minutes later. Two minutes before the interval, Bulathsinhalage crossed again to complete his brace, with fly half Stephen Sivaraj adding the conversion to give Havelocks a commanding 34-0 lead at the break.
Havies centre, Samoan Amituanai 'Junior' Visesio made more than just a breakthrough on his first outing - Pic by Eshan Fernando
The Soldiers, however, completely changed the complexion of the game after the resumption, pushing Havies out of their comfort zone. Army struck twice through rolling mauls, a trademark of coach Sanath Martis, with No. 8 Vinod Kumar scoring in the 48th minute and prop Ijaz Ahmed completing his brace in the 54th. Fullback Lahiru Ratnayake converted one of the tries.
After forcing Havelocks to play with two men down from the 50th minute following the sin binning of flyhalf Sivaraj and hooker Fajudeen, the Soldiers dominated much of the remainder of the match but failed to turn pressure into points. However, winger Jayathu Rajaratne produced a decisive breakthrough five minutes from full time to halt Army’s momentum, and with Sivaraj’s conversion, Havelocks secured the win and remained one of three unbeaten teams in the competition.