The curtain raising clash of the Plate Segment of the Maliban Inter-Club Rugby League 2025/26 was staged as Navy SC took on Air Force SC at the Navy grounds in Welisara. After having a dominating display, the Airmen thrashed the hosts during a try-fest.
Isuru Kongahawatte made a deep kick-off for the Sailors, but Kaveesha Kaluarachchi got the Airmen out of the jail with a great counter kick without taking any risk by playing inside their red zone. Though there was a fierce package of Rugby during the first ten minutes, players failed to score. Later, the Sailors had a great attack on the Airmen and advanced into Air Force territory. Eventually, the Airmen were in hot water as they conceded a scrum just five meters away from their own try line. The sailors opted for a No. 08 break. With a short pass, the ball switched to the center Senura Peiris who cut back in to score under the post by avoiding a couple of tacklers. Reliable place kicker Isuru Kongahawatte nailed an easy conversion to give an early lead for the Sailors. (Air Force 00 – Navy 07)
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After a few moments, the visitors had plenty to celebrate as they attacked deep into the Navy territory. When the ball worked wide from right to the left, the Air Force winger Shenal Lithira was overlapped and crossed the try line from the left, and came inside to plant the first try for the visitors. Kaveesha Kaluarachchi added the extras from a challenging angle to square the game. (Air Force 07 – 07 Navy)
The Air Force made a breakthrough again and advanced deep into Navy territory. After a few pick and drive phases, the Airmen struck back with another try courtesy of Vimukthi Fernando to gain the lead. Kaluarachchi added the extras to extend the lead. (Air Force 14 – 07 Navy)
Thereafter, the Airmen showcased their fine rhythm, and their overseas player Vaovasa Afa made another marvellous break through the Navy defence. However, the hosts finally managed to bring the powerhouse onto the ground just before he reached the whitewash. Then, the ball worked wide and a ruck was formed near the left touch line. There, Air Force fullback Gayantha Iddamalgoda saw no one was backing the blind side and intelligently planted a diving try by using that space. Kaveesha Kaluarachchi made a peach of a conversion from the far left corner to add the extras. (Air Force 21 – 07 Navy)
An important call came during the 34th minute of the game as Senura Pieris was shown a straight red card by the Referee for a dangerous tackle.
Again, the Airmen advanced deep into Navy territory through a high tackle penalty conceded by the Navy. There, the Airmen managed to cross the whitewash, but the Referee decided that it was held up at the in-goal area. Subsequently, Air Force received the goal line drop-out kick and struck back in no time by getting away from a couple of tackles. Finally, the open side winger Arosha Rathnayake touched down from the right corner to plant the bonus point try for the Airmen. Kaluarachchi converted back to back corner flag tries by making a strong statement to the national selectors. (Air Force 28 – 07 Navy)
During the dying stage of the first half, Navy received a penalty for off the feet offence (at a ruck) and Isuru Kongahawatte made no mistake with that. (Air Force 28 – 10 Navy)
The penalty kick was followed by the short whistle, and the visitors went out of the ground by cementing a handsome lead.
Half Time: Air Force SC 28 (4 T, 4 C) – Navy SC 10 (1 T, 1 C, 1 P)
The visitors started the second half with a high hanging kick-off. After a brief play inside their red zone, Navy made a good clearance kick. Then Airmen came closer to whitewash as the Navy conceded another penalty for using hands in a ruck. It was followed by a five meter line-out, and after a bulldozing maul by Air Force, their hooker Shamika Kaushan broke from behind to plant the fifth try. Kaluarachchi continued to impress the spectators with another stunning conversion kick. (Air Force 35 – 10 Navy)
After a brief play, the Air Force again advanced near to the Navy whitewash and kept asking some serious questions from the sailors. There, the ball worked sideways and the second rower Nishan Pieris who was at a ruck, suddenly broke away and dived over the try line along with the tackler to score. This time, the living legend of the Air Force Gayantha Iddamalgoda made a superb conversion. (Air Force 42 – 10 Navy)
Eventually, there was a brawl at the mid-way mark, and after Airmen secured the possession, the ball switched to Air Force overseas talent Vaovasa Afa, who made another stunning break to score near the left corner flag. Gayantha Iddamalgoda showcased his pure class by nailing another difficult conversion. (Air Force 49 – 10 Navy)
Then the host had something to cheer as the Sailors launched a fine attack into the deep of Air Force territory. Next, Navy executed a productive pick and drive phase and their Skipper Denuwan Wickramarachchi crossed the try line by completing the redemption. Kongahawatte once again was brilliant with his place kicking to add the extras. (Air Force 49 – 17 Navy)
Again, the Air Force three quarters displayed their attacking flair after receiving a clearance kick at the midway mark. Arosh Rathnayake made a brilliant side step and went through the defence and unselfishly gave the try scoring opportunity to Ishara Rathnayake with a nippy pass. The legend stamped his excellence with another successful conversion. (Air Force 56 – 17 Navy)
Then, the Navy had an untidy scrum at the midway mark, and somehow the ball came out of the scrum. The luck of the moment lied with Navy and Koojana Kulathunga displayed his soccer skills to plant an under-the-post try after kicking the ball twice during the chase. Kongahawatte was again brilliant with the conversion. (Air Force 56 – 24 Navy)
During the dying stages of the game, Air Force received scrum in the Navy red zone and the Airmen managed to push towards the white wash. Then the ball was given to three-quarters, and after a single pass replacement center, Kalana Chamuditha scored the final try of the game. Surprisingly, Iddamalgoda missed the easiest conversion opportunity that he received in the game. (Air Force 61 – 24 Navy)
The unsuccessful conversion attempt was followed by the long whistle by the Referee Raveen Alexander.
Full Time: Air Force SC 61 (9 T, 8 C) – Navy SC 24 (3 T, 3 C, 1 P)
Swisstek Player of the Match: Gayantha Iddamalgoda (Air Force SC)
Points Breakdown
Air Force SC – 61
Shenal Lithira 1 T, Vimukthi Fernando 1 T, Arosha Rathnayake 1 T, Shamika Kaushan 1 T, Nishan Pieris 1 T, Vaovasa Afa 1 T, Ishara Rathnayake 1 T, Kalana Chamuditha 1 T, Kaveesha Kaluarachchi 5 C, Gayantha Iddamalgoda 1 T, 3 C,
Navy SC – 24
Senura Peiris 1 T, Denuwan Wickramarachchi 1 T, Koojana Kulathunga 1 T, Isuru Kongahawatte 3 C, 1 P
