Fawmy double in vain as Cops slump to 18-32 defeat

By Harsha Amarasinghe

Army Sports Club secured a fairly comfortable 32 (4-tries, 3-conversions, 2-penalties) – 18 (3-tries, 1-penalty) victory over Police Sports Club in their Dialog Inter-Club League Rugby match which concluded at Ratmalana on Sunday.

Full-back Gayan Salinda once again played stellar role for the Soldiers as the Army place kicker slotted in three conversions and two penalties bagging 12 points out of the 32 his team scored.

Soldiers raced to 8-0 lead inside 15 minutes courtesy of a Gayan Salinda penalty and a try from nippy scrum half Sampath Kumara who has been one of their best players this season having also scored against Havelock Sports Club last week that of course in a losing cause.

Police struck back in the 26th minute sending over their lock forward Wajid Fawmy to score their first try of the game and the former Zahira forward showed great resilience in battling his way into the try line, but fly-half Sandesh Jayawickrama failed add the extras as they remained behind Soldiers.

The former St. Peter’s captain however, made amends with a fine penalty at the very end of first half which saw both the teams walking off with scores leveled on eight-all.

It could have been anybody’s game, but the Soldiers certainly showed much more desire to grab the victory as they crossed the white line thrice in the second half, and by doing so not only did they seal the win, but also claimed the bonus point which will see them climbing to the top half of the points table.

Prop forward Sugath Nanayakkara dived over in the 52nd minute after which the tries from fly half Ashan Bandara and centre S. Bulathsinhala ensured a very good win for the Soldiers despite the Cops managing a try each from Fawmy and wing three quarter Sujan Kodithuwakku.

The Cops have now lost five of the six games they played and will remain at the bottom of the points table.