Havies beat Police 31-26 after early scare

By Shannon Nicholas

Havelock Sports Club came from behind to beat Police Sports Club 31-26 in their Dialog Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament match played at the Police Park today (30).

The winners collected their points through five tries and three conversions while Police SC responded with four tries and three conversions.

At the end of the first half the scores read 14-0 in favour of Police SC.

The first points came in the 20th minute when Lahiru Pavithra scored the first try for the hosts. Sachith Silva added the extras with ease.

After 15 minutes, the home side struck again, this time through centre Iroshan Silva. The player went right through the Havies defence to touch down after excellent team play.

With the conversion, Police SC led 14-0.

Police SC scored their third try through Shanaka Harischandra. The number eight dashed past the Havelock SC players to plant the try, amending the scores to 19-0.

With immense pressure mounting, Havelock SC got their much needed breakthrough when they scored three blistering tries in a gap of eight minutes which left the Police outfit baffled.

The first of them came through Umesha Madushan who took advantage of the sudden attack by the Havies close to the try line, by creeping through a gap to touch down.

Full back Prince Chamara converted to make the scores read 7-19.

Five minutes later, Rahal Delpachitra got his name on the score sheet when he collected the ball off a quick throw-in close to the try line before touching down for Havies’ second try.

Madushan got his second of the evening almost immediately to amend the scores to 19-21.

Police SC scored a try when Nisal Samadhi went over the line 10 minutes later. With the conversion, the scores were 26-21.

Vageesha Weerasinghe was sin-binned and taking advantage of the extra man on the field, Havelock SC scored their fourth try when Delpachitra scored his second, to make the scores tied at 26-all, after Chamara’s conversion bounced off the post.

Havelock SC chose for scrum close to the try-line and they were rewarded when Lasindu Karunathilaka went over the line, to amend the scores to 31-26.