Havies out-muscle Air Force with strong second half

By Sandun Kodithuwakku

Havelock Sports Club produced a second-half comeback to outwit Air Force Sports Club and win their sixth Dialog Rugby inter-club game of the first round with a score of 31-25, at Police Park today (23).

Havelock SC was in full form scoring their 31 points off four goals and a penalty while Air Force SC accumulated their points through two goals, one try and two penalties. Air Force SC led 22-21 at half time.

In the seven minute of the game Havies had a good chance to attack through their running game but a pass by scrum half Vimukthi Rahula to the second centre Eshan Ariyapala was intercepted by Air Force Prop forward Charles Praveen who ran the ball from the center line in the opposite direction to score under the post. Gayantha Iddamalgoda added the extras points.

Air Force rocked their opponents with a second try in the 10th minute, when left wing three quater Sudath Bandara scored another five points for his team.

Havelock SC soon replied however, through Prop forward Liston Flanty who crashed through for a try off a rolling maul when he barged over mid-right. Fullback Prince Chamara converted and the scores read 12-07.

In the 17th minute, referee Hasantha Weranga awarded a penlaty for Air Force SC and fly half Iddamalgoda put over the 26-metre attempt. Air Force extended their lead to 15-07.

Havelock struck back once again, replying through two back to back tries.

Havelock SC scored almost immediately after flanker Sithum Peiris collected the ball which bounced off a Air Force player’s hand, running a good 30 metres before diving under the posts. Prince Chamara converted with ease, cutting the deficit to a point.

Havelock then took the lead for the first time in the game, when Ariyapala passed to Chamara Dabare who ran into score his team's third try, with Prince Chamara adding the two extra points.

Five minutes before half-time however, Air Force prop forward Charles Praveen scored under the posts, with Iddamalgoda's successful conversion giving the Airmen the lead once again, 22-21.

They extended that lead early in the second half, when Iddamalgoda put over a

penalty in the 47th minute, but it was all Havelocks for the rest of the game.

Hooker Azmir Fajudeen broke off a rolling maul, four minutes later, to give Havelocks the lead once again, with Chamara's conversion giving the Havies a three-point lead.

A 70th minute penalty from Chamara, from 22 metres, was the last points of the game, as Havelock came out winners 31-25.