Police SC pull off thrilling win over Army

By M. Shamil Amit

Police SC, leaders of the Nippon Rugby League Plate Segment, pulled off a thrilling one-point win over Army SC in a hard-fought match played at the Police Park on Friday (10).

The match was closely contested in the two sessions of play with the score being deadlocked at seven-a-piece at the breather and with 15 points scored in the second session of play. 

In the process, Police SC made up their points through a goal, a try and a drop goal to the two goals scored by Army SC, for a 15-14 win.

Heshan Tillekeratne and Prince Chamara went over for the two tries by Police SC with Chamara booting over the conversion and the crucial drop goal in the second half while Ijaz Ahmed and Manoj Kumara scored the tries for Army SC with Chamath Fernando making the conversions.

Air Force SC prevail over CH&FC in high-scoring match

Air Force SC, second in the Plate Segment of the Nippon Paint Rugby League, kept their chances of challenging for that title alive, when they recorded a comfortable 44-31 win over CH & FC in a high scoring game played at the Racecourse ground yesterday.

The two sides shared honours in the opening half, with the Airmen holding a close 20-17 lead, going on to tally five goals and three penalties, while CH&FC scored three goals and two tries. 

However, it was the Airmen who scored first through two penalties booted over by Nuwan Perera which followed with back to back tries by Krishan Soorya and Shashika Fernando. 

Perera added the extra points while CH replied with three tires from Avishka Lee, Prasath Madusanka and Vishwa Kiriella but Nethmina Hirusha made just one conversion.

On resumption Air Force SC playing with much more cohesion went on a try scoring spree as they planted three tries through Darshana Dabare, Denuwan Lakranda and Parakrama Ratnayake, with Perera making no mistake with the three conversions and a penalty helped the Airmen go into a 44-17 lead.

Though the Maitland Place club made valiant effort and succeeded in posting two tries through Teran Thiranagama and Udara Jayapala it was insufficient to prevent the Airmen from coasting to a comfortable win.

Main photo: Action in the Nippon Paing Rugby League Plate Championship encounter between Police SC and Army SC played at Police Park yesterday.-Pictures by Kushan Pathiraja