Dinesh Weerarathne pushed himself over the line to clinch victory in the very last minute for Air Force in their match against Police SC in Ratmalana which ended with the scores reading 15-13.
It was a cliffhanger at the Air Force Grounds as both teams fought right till the end but it was the home side who edged over at the very last minute. The first half was dominated by Police while Air Force struggled to get things going. It was a quiet start to the game but things turned around in the 22nd minute when the home side went down to 14 men as their fly half Nuwan Perera was sent to the naughty chair. Rajitha Sansony of Police SC drew first blood with a well taken penalty in the 23rd minute. (Police SC 3 – Air Force SC 0)
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The visitors went on to extend their lead with an unconverted try by Mohommad Abzal. A series of unforced errors by the Airmen inside their own half led to a line out inside their 10m. Police were good in their set plays and it was a piece of cake for the speedster to go over the line. (Police SC 8 – Air Force SC 0)
Air Force made a few inroads into the game in the latter stages of the first half but due to their indiscipline they couldn’t find the try line before the whistle. Police on the other hand had a chance to extend their lead by 3 points at the brink of half time but Sansony missed the target by a fare distance.
Half Time: Police SC 8 – Air Force SC 0
The second half turned out to be completely different to the 1st half. Air Force came out and showed resistance early on but it was yet again the visitors who scored first in the second half. Once again the Police forwards pushed deep into Air Force territory and this time it was Romesh Acharige who went over the line. 42 minutes into the game, Police were sitting pretty but Air Force did not give up. (Police SC 13 – Air Force SC 0)
Air Force bounced back with a converted try by second half substitute Supun Madushanka. Police were penalized for playing offside inside their own half, Air Force were quick to react and after few phases Supun pushed himself over for their first try. Nuwan Perera added the extras with ease. (Police SC 13 – Air Force SC 7)
They went on to add three more points 7 minutes later with Nuwan once again getting into action with a fairly easy angle inside the 40m. (Police SC 13 – Airforce SC 10)
Air Force kept the pressure on the visitors and it finally paid off when Police conceded a penalty for holding on in the 77th minute. But unfortunately for the home side, Nuwan could not bisect the uprights.
Air Force fought bravely and they found the winning try in the very last minute. Police were in possession but Air Force turned it over and worked their way to a match winning try. Dinesh Weerarathne carried the ball over but the credit should go to the whole team who hung in there until the very last moment and clinched victory from jaws of defeat.
Full Time: Police SC 13 – Air Force SC 15
ThePapare.com‘s Player of the Match: Raneesha Senevirathne (Police SC)
Points scorers for Air Force SC: Supun Madushanka 1T, Dinesh Weerarathne 1T, Nuwan Perera 1P, 1C
Points scorers for Police SC: Mohammad Abzal 1T, Romesh Acharige 1T, Rajitha Sansony 1C
