Bilal’s final burst puts Sailors in to Semi’s

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Category: Caltex Club Rugby

Published on Sunday, 04 September 2011 02:31

Written by Sankha DLT

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It was a last minute try from the Navy SC number 8 Bilal Hassan that saw them cross the finishing line in the dying stages of the game against the Policemen in their interclub knock out match played at the Royal College sports complex.

Half time score: 6-5 Police leading

Full time score: 15-12 Navy won

Police after a gruelling league tournament came in to this encounter after having done their home work with kicker Harshana Wijeweera taking lead with the boot. The experienced fly half took the challenge to the Sailors slotting in two well executed penalties after the Navy team was caught wanting in the first few minutes of the game. After the first Wijeweera penalty the Navy team came in to the lead with a try by former Kingswood full back Chua Susantha. The conversion was missed and the score remained at 5-3. Then Wijeweera made amends with the boot to take back the lead which they held going in to half time.

The Navy team which finished second in the league did not show the same brand of rugby which they displayed in the league tournament and nearly went down to a improved Police unit.

After a lacklustre first half both teams came out with better performances in the second half with Police in particular looking the more threatening out of the two. The Police fly half Wijeweera then pilled on the score with another penalty making the score 9-5 just minutes in to the second half. Though the Policemen went on to kick their way through to a lead, they could not find their way to the try line due to some stiff Navy defence especially their third row. Navy three-quarter Samantha Lakshan then reduced the gap with a penalty to make the score 8-9 and Wijeweera extended their lead with another one of his customary penalties to make it 12-8. At this point of time, with the time ticking away one would have thought that Police will do the unthinkable and beat the fancied Navy team, but it was the sad ending for the Policemen as they were at the receiving end of some individual brilliance by Bilal Hassen.

The final minutes of the game was now on, and the league runner-ups had to come up with a sparkling performance to get ahead of the Police team. And that spark came from their number 8 Bilal Hassen who swept passed the defence to the delight of the Navy supporters to score a last minute try to win the game for the Sailors. Hassen who was a bit off colour during most parts of the game, came out with a match winning try to seal the deal for the Navy team.

It was a very uncharacteristic performance by the Navy team and their coach, Ronny Ibrahim will definitely have a word with his players before the semi finals.

 

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