Police start second round on winning note; Kandy continue winning streak

By Shamseer Jaleel

Police Sports Club produced one of their best performances this season when they started round two of the Inter-club League Rugby tournament by edging out Navy SC (16-11) in a tense battle at Police Park last weekend.

Police SC played well within themselves as a team, combining very well for the first time this season. Their playmakers Mohamed Sheriff, Reza Mubarak, Reza Rafaideen and Rehan Weerakoon all had grand outings. At the short breather the Cops led 10-6 with number right Omalka Gunaratne earning a yellow card which was costly for the Sailors. For Police SC, their crack number eight Bilal Hassen came back after his injury playing as a hooker. Mohamed Absal and Reza Rafaideen scored for the Cops with Reza Mubarak on target with two penalties. For the Sailors, Suranga Pushpakumara scored the try with Thilan Weerasinghe on target with two penalty kicks.

Meanwhile, defending champions and this year’s unbeaten table leaders after the first round, Kandy Sports Club, outclassed CH&FC 78-13 in one way traffic at the Race Course rugby grounds. Kandy scored 12 tries, converting nine of them, plus playing minus two of their best players – skipper Fazil Marija and Nigel Ratwatte – for this outing, given a well-earned rest.

Kandy, who took a 41 to nothing lead at the short breather, went on a rampage booting the young CH out of their game. For Kandy, Lavanga Perera (2), Sooriyabandara (2), Uchitha Jayasuriya (2), Gayan Ratnayake (1), Piyumal Manchanayake (1), Dhanushka Dyan (1), Lochana Giriyagama (1), Buwanka Udangamuwa (1) and Ravin Randeema (1) scored the tries with Arshard Jamaldeen converting seven of them and Thilana Wijesinghe on target with two of them. For CH, Prasad Perera put over two penalties and a try conversion with the try being scored by Dimal Jayasinghe.

Havelocks kicked off the second round with a 38-5 win over the Airmen in Ratmalana. Havies were hit by injury worries, losing out on their top players such as Dhanushka Ranjan, Ganuka Dissanayake, Shenal Dias and Dulaj Perera. Havies should be at their best in order to secure their number two position with some stiff opposition coming their way from CR&FC, Army, Navy, Police and Kandy in this round. 

This was a good win for the CR to regroup after trailing 6-10 to make a superb second half rally to down the Soldiers in their own den. For CR, Prince Chamara put over two penalties with a try scored by Sashanka Ariyaratne. Kanchana Ramanayake also scored a try and put over a penalty for the “Red Shirts”. For the Soldiers, Abeyratne and Nishantha scored the tries with Ashan Bandara putting over a solitary penalty. With this win, the “Red Shirts” will be back at their best and will end in the top three after round two.

Kandy and Havies are frontrunners for the inter-club league this year.