Another epic clash of the Maliban Inter-Club Rugby League 2025/26 was staged as Police Sports Club hosted the Army Sports Club at the Havelock Grounds in Colombo. Being thankful for the unmatched attacking flair and solid defence of their newly added Fijian player, the hosts posted a comfortable 30 – 10 victory over soldiers.
The hosts, Police, started the proceedings with a deep kickoff right into the opposition’s 22-metre line. National capped Sudharaka Dikkumbura straightaway into the action with a great clearance kick, which brought back the play again into the midway mark.
Soon after, Police raided into the Army territory with a magnificent break courtesy of their newly added Fijian player, Kaliova Mocetadra. Since then, the Cops have never looked back and have marched forward by displaying their attacking flair. After some powerful hits on the Army defence line, Police earned a penalty for using hands in the ruck. The Cops opted for a scrum just 5 metres away from the try line, and after having some thumping hits on soldiers, Heshan Kalhara drew the first blood for the host with a powerful drive. Surprisingly the placekicker of the hosts, Pasindu Tharaka, missed an easy conversion chance by a whisker. (Police 05 – 00 Army)
After ten minutes of play, Army fullback Sudharaka Dikkumbura showcased his brilliant talent after picking a loose pass of Police SC from inside of their own half. Dikkumbura ran through the defence until he reached the 22-metre line, and by covering the last defender, he made a magnificent backhanded pass to the supporting winger, Prasanna Jayathunga. He did well enough to run towards the right corner flag and score on the first try for the visitors. (Police 05 – 05 Army)
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Later, Police magnificently worked the ball from right to left, and the blindside winger, Ramith Himasha, managed to break the defence line, but he was finally brought down by his opposite number, Dikkumbura. Referee Nalin Lasantha was spot on with the tackle, and he sin-binned the Army playmaker and skipper for a neck tackle. Then the Cops opted for a scrum, and Fijian outside centre Mosetrada flexed his muscles against the soldiers by getting away from a few tackles and also dragging a couple of defenders to score a powering try. This time, Police fullback Pasindu Tharaka added the extras with a pinpoint conversion. (Police 12 – 05 Army)
After a while, the soldiers ambushed the police territory with a superb and astonishing attack. While attempting to defend the overseas player from the cops, Mocetadra lifted an Army player and brought him down in a dangerous manner. Subsequently, he was sin-binned by the Referee, Nalin Lasantha, by equalling the numbers on the field. With that penalty, the Army received a five-metre lineout and had a great chance to score but eventually wasted the opportunity.
At the brink of Half Time, Army took possession and went for the wrong option by deciding to play a tactical game by staying inside of their own half. By the way, they gifted a five-metre scrum for the hosts, and Skipper Harishchandra opted for a no. 08 break. After a brief pick-and-go passage, Police Flanker Sameera Jayasinghe went over the whitewash with a diving effort to give a commanding lead to the hosts. Pasindu narrowly missed another conversion attempt, and the short whistle followed. (Police 17 – 05 Army)
Half Time: Police SC 17 (3 T, 1 C) – Army SC 05 (1 T)
The Army started the second half with a high hanging kick-off and straightaway recovered possession after pressuring the hosts, who were inside their own half. Later, the soldiers earned a five-metre lineout as Heshan Kalhara failed to join in to a ruck from the hindmost foot of his fellow players. It was followed by a strong driving maul, and determined soldiers never turned their heads down against their huge opponents, and Tharun Warnasooriya crossed the line by putting the first try of the second half on the scoresheet. (Police 17 – 10 Army)
Thereafter an action-packed 20 minutes of play went by without troubling the scorers. All of a sudden, the Army prop forward broke the deadlock after picking up a knocked-on ball from an offside position. Without a second invitation, Police went for the points, and reliable placekicker Prince Chamara nailed a crucial penalty. (Police 20 – 10 Army)
Afterwards, Police was given an opportunity to raid Army territory as a soldier was penalised for not rolling away after tackling. There, the hosts applied massive pressure on soldiers with some fierce attacking without giving any breathing space. All of a sudden the Fijian Mosetadra displayed his tactical brilliance by unexpectedly breaking from a ruck and penetrating through the defence. Then get displayed unmatched physicality by offering a few hand-offs on tacklers and by dragging a few without going to the ground. He also made a timely offloading to supporting winger Kodithuwakku, who made justification to the brilliance of the Fijian by scoring the bonus point try just before crossing the touchline. (Police 25 – 10 Army)
Within a few minutes Police SC initiated another attack after an excellent turnover of the ball. With a short sprint, Police kicked for a grubber and recovered the possession after an excellent chase. It was followed by a magnificent passing of Police three-quarters, and subsequently Sujan Kodithuwakku scored again in quick succession. (Police 30 – 10 Army)
During the dying stages of the game, Army attacked cops for a consolation try, but after receiving a penalty, Prince Chamara tapped the ball and kicked it outside to end the affair for the day.
Full Time: Police SC 30 (5 T, 1 C, 1 P) – Army SC 10 (2 T)
- SWISSTEK Player of the Match – Kaliova Mocetadra (Police SC)
Points Breakdown
Police Sports Club – 30
Sujan Kodithuawakku 2 T, Heshan Kalhara 1 T, Kaliova Mocetadra 1 T, Sameera Jayasinghe 1 T, Pasindu Tharaka 1 C, Prince Chamara 1 P
Army Sports Club – 10
Prasanna Jayathunga 1 T, Tharun Warnasooriya 1 T
Match Referee – Nalin Lasantha
