By Amindha de Alwis

Army SC (four tries, three conversions) and Police SC (four tries, three conversions) had to settle for a 26-26 stalemate in their final match of the opening round of the Dialog Inter-Club Rugby League worked off at the Navy Grounds in Welisara today (17).

Police entered the game minus several front-line players due to injury but got off to a flying start courtesy successive tries by Sachith Silva within the first 11 minutes; both of which were converted by Nalin Kumara.

However, a few minutes later, Emosi Vunivosa of Police SC was yellow carded and sent to the sin-bin by the referee which allowed the opposition an opportunity to claw their way back into the game. Dhanushka Talwatte was first on the board for Army as he went over in the 16th minute, followed by Tomasi Caqusau a few minutes later as Army took full toll of Vunivosa’s temporary absence from the field.

Caqusau registered his second try for the day in the 36th minute as he ploughed his way through the Police defence to put his side in the lead before Police struck back just on the brink of half-time when Vihanga Pivithuru went over the line to leave the score standing at 21-21 at half-time.

A try by Sudaraka Dikkumbura put Army ahead soon after the resumption, but only by five points as Ashan Bandara failed to make the conversion.

Dhanushka Edirisooriya brought up Police’s fourth try for the day but they too failed to convert; leaving the scoreline at 26-all.

Police battled hard for the rest of the half but Army, in spite of three yellow cards across the final 25 minutes, just about held on to walk away with a hard-fought draw.