Havelocksdown Air Force inthriller

By M. ShamilAmit

Havelock SC pulled off a close 26 points to 22 win over Air Force SC in the Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) inter-club rugby encounter played under floodlights at the Havelock Park yesterday to record their third successive win of the tournament.

Havelock SC having taken a lead of 19-15 at half time accumulated their points through three goals and a try to the two goals, one try and a penalty scored by Air Force SC.

It was scrum half RahulaVimukthi who sealed the Havelock SC victory when they were trailing 19-22 with six minutes of play left with a match winning try off a five metre scrum, which try was converted full back MithunHapugoda.

The early proceedings saw Airmen drawing first blood in the ninth minute through a penalty booted over by scrum half and skipper NuwanPerera. However five minutes later the Haviestook the lead with an unconverted try scored by prop forward MatheeshaSarathchandra.

But the Airmen fought back and in the 19th minute scored an unconverted try through hooker ParakramaRatnayake. The ding dong battle saw Havies succeeding to take the lead five minutes later with full backHapugoda going over for a try which he himself converted.Ten minutes before the short whistle the two sides succeeded to score a try each for the Havies lead 19-15.

The resumption saw Airmen going into the lead in the 16th minute with skipper NuwanVimuthiscoring his second try of the match. However, with time running out the nippy Havies scrum half shot into action much to the relief of the hosts.