Airmen sink Sailors
Air Force Sports Club ran riot to begin their quest to claim the Plate Championship of the SLR-Maliban Club Rugby League 2025/26 with a smashing 61-24 win against Navy Sports Club at Welisara yesterday. The Sailors shocked the Airmen on the outset with an opening minute try from centre Senura Perera, but the visitors made sure to cut back their early setback and run away with a nine-try win, after finishing the first half with a 28-10 lead.
Navy SC, who collected their points from three converted tries and a penalty, were totally outsmarted by Air Force, who went on to post nine tries and convert eight of them, with scrumhalf Kaveesha Kaluarachchi putting over five and the veteran flyhalf Gayantha Iddamalgoda converting three while missing the final attempt.
After Sailor Perera opened scoring Air Force retaliated with four tries from winger Shenal Udayanga, centre Afa Sua, fullback Ishara Madushan with winger Arosh Ratnayake completing the bonus point try soon after Navy try scorer Perera was sent off from the game with a red card in the 34th minute. Flyhalf Isuru Kongahawatte, who had a successful day with the boot, put over a penalty to have Navy trailing 10-28 at halftime.
The Airmen made use of the numerical advantage to add five more tries after the turnaround, with hooker Shamika Kaushan, lock Maleesha Weerakoon, centre Afa Sua, fullback Ishara Madushan and replacement centre Kalana Chamuditha bracing tries after the resumption. Despite a man less, the Sailors found breakthroughs in the 59th and 68th minutes when flanker Denuwan Wickramaarachchi and scrumhalf Koojana Kulatunga cross the line.