Navy SC qualify for Clifford final after thrilling semi win over Army SC

Navy SC came out victorious in the second semi-final of the Nippon Paint Clifford Cup knockout tournament with a thrilling extra-time win over Army SC at the Racecourse ground on Thursday.

The scores were tied at 13-all at the full-time whistle, with Full back Thilina Weerasinghe proving the hero for Navy SC as he booted over a 50-metre drop goal in the first minute of the extra time.

The first half of regulation time saw Navy SC trailing 07-03 with both teams making up their points through a goal and two penalties.

Army SC came into the game on the back of a confidence boosting and comfortable 39-17 win against Havelock SC in the quarter-final round while Navy SC benefitted from a first round bye.

It was almost a repeat of the first semi-final encounter with Navy SC, much like CR &FC, making a comeback in the last ten minutes with Army SC leading 13-06 at that stage.

Navy SC opened the scoring in the 14th minute from a penalty booted over by Weerasinghe but 14 minutes later Army SC took the lead with a try scored by Chalika Sandaruwan, converted by Fly-half Chamath Fernando, with the 07-03 remaining until half-time. 

On resumption the Sailors reduced the deficit through a penalty booted over by Fly half Samuel Maduwantha.

But Army increased the lead thanks to Fly half Chamath Fernando booting over two penalties for a 13-06 lead.

With just over ten minutes of play left, a try by Scrum half Harsha Madusanka, which was converted by Isuru Kongahawatte, levelled the score at 13-all when the long whistle was blown. A minute into extra-time Weerasinghe sealed Navy’s place in the tournament decider, the second time they have reached that stage, having beaten Havelock SC in their only other appearance in the final in 2014. 

They will try to make it two wins out of two on Sunday when they face CR&FC at the same venue.

Main photo: Action from the Nippon Paint Clifford Cup semi-final encounter between Navy SC and Army SC played at the Racecourse ground (Text: By M. Shamil Amit / Pic by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe)