Army SC deliver emphatic statement with crushing win
Army Sports Club produced their most impressive performance of the season in the SLR–Maliban Club Rugby League 2025/26, recording a commanding 57–24 victory over Navy Sports Club in the final-week Plate Segment encounter played at Welisara yesterday.
The Soldiers ran in nine tries in a dominant display that was set in motion by an early onslaught and reinforced by a commanding 33–17 halftime lead against a Navy side reduced to 14 men following the red-card dismissal of their foreign No. 8 Lepani Thivanuavou in the 27th minute.
By the time Thivanuavou was sent off, Army had already crossed for four tries and secured the bonus point, racing to a 26–7 advantage. Centre Danushka Thawatte opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a powerful running try, before prop Buddhi Srimantha added the second three minutes later. Lock Madushanka Silva then produced a moment of brilliance in the 14th minute, and with fullback Lahiru Ratnayake converting all three, Army surged to a 21–0 lead.
Navy responded briefly through a try in the 17th minute, converted by fly-half Isuru Kongahawatte, to make it 21–7. However, Thawatte’s second try in the 27th minute proved costly for the Sailors, as Thivanuavou was shown a red card for a dangerous neck tackle on the scorer. Navy opted for points from a penalty soon after, with Kongahawatte narrowing the gap to 26–10.
Army, though, refused to relent. Hooker Nalin Kumara crossed in the 35th minute, Ratnayake added the conversion, and the lead stretched to 33–10. Navy skipper and flanker Denuwan Wickramaarachchi then produced a stunning solo effort just before the interval, covering more than half the field to score. Fullback Kalpa Lakmina converted to leave Navy trailing 33–17 at the break.
The second half was one-way traffic. Army raised the tempo and scored at will through Madushanka Silva (43rd), skipper and winger Sudaraka Dikkumbura (58th), winger Tharindra Chandrasena (62nd) and flanker Tharun Warnasuriya (68th). Navy’s woes deepened when try-scorer Senura Peiris was forced off with a blue card following a concussion in the 54th minute.
The Sailors managed a late consolation try through centre Amith Madushanka, but Army had the final say, completing a comprehensive 57–24 triumph and end their Plate campaign on a resounding high, while Navy scored from three converted tries and a penalty.