Another blockbuster clash in the Plate Segment of the Maliban Inter-Club Rugby League 2025/26 was unveiled as the Police SC took on Army SC at the Army grounds at Panagoda. After trailing 14 – 10 at the halfway mark, Police SC showcased a valiant effort to come back and complete a thrilling 29 – 14 victory.
Police Sports Club kicking star Naveen Kanishka started the proceedings with a brilliant contestable kickoff, but the soldiers did well to secure the position, and fullback Rathnayake made a clearance kick. Thereafter, Army secured the possession in the midway mark but went backward during the open play. Suddenly the cops made an excellent counter-ruck, and the soldiers were penalised for a side entry at the ruck. Without any further invitation, Police went for the points, but Kanishka’s kick narrowly missed the right bar.
At the 17th minute, Army was penalised for running from a position which was in front of the kicker. The Police side created a five-metre lineout and attacked with a well-constructed driving maul. Though the Police forwards crossed the whitewash with the maul, the Army forwards did equally well to prevent the ball grounding as the Referee, Raveen Alexander, delivered a held-up call.
After 20 minutes of play, the Cops came into the 22-metre area of the soldiers as the army was penalised for using hands in a ruck. The Cops once again attacked with a driving maul, but the hosts brought it down just before the try line. Then the ball worked wide, and Police SC’s foreign grit Kaliova Mocetrada broke the deadlock by cutting back inside, avoiding a few tacklers and taking the first blood of the encounter. Surprisingly, Avishka Hiran missed a regulation conversion chance. (Police 05 – 00 Army)
A few seconds after the restart kick, Army conceded another penalty for their failure to release the ball at the deck. Police kicker Kanishka made a superb touch kick by earning his side a lineout at the opposition’s 22-metre area from their own half. Again, the Police forwards dominated the maul, showcased their muscle and grit and bulldozed over the try line, while Heshan Kalhara planted the second try near to the right corner flag. (Police 10 – 00 Army)
Afterwards, Army had a rare good passage of play, and inch by inch the soldiers advanced towards the whitewash. Near the try line, they kept answering some questions from the Police defence. Suddenly, the Army scrum-half made a scrappy pass, but eventually the loose ball created a gap in the defence. The Army fullback Lahiru Rathnayake secured the loose ball and did well to miss the tackler and dive over the try-line by making a bold reply. Then Rathnayake put a cherry on top of his try with a magnificent conversion. (Police 10 – 07 Army)
Army’s merry way continued as they received another penalty just after the restart, as one of the Cops was penalised for not rolling away at a tackle. However, surprisingly, Rathnayake missed an easy penalty kick.
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At the brink of Half Time, Police were reduced to 14 men as the Police second-row player Vimukthi Perera was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle. Here, the hosts intelligently used the numerical advantage and worked the ball in sideways by minimising the contacts. During the play, the cops conceded a few penalties.
Then, things went from bad to worse for the Cops as Heshan Kalhara went to the ground due to an injury. The soldiers worked the ball well against 13 men, and Praveen Ransika scored a diving try through a huge gap in the defence line. Rathnayake nailed another challenging conversion to extend the lead. (Police 10 – 14 Army)
After the magnificent conversion, the short whistle followed, and the hosts secured a slight lead at the lemons.
Half Time: Army SC 14 (2 T, 2 C) Police SC 10 (2 T)
During the second half, the Police side looked like a different outfit and played with a more positive and attacking mindset. By the way, they raided Army territory, and received a penalty for an offside play by the soldiers. The Cops opted for a scrum, and the Police Skipper Shanaka Harishchandra flexed his muscles and scored a try through a No. 08 break. After regaining the lead, Prince Chamara’s conversion kick went astray. (Police 15 – 14 Army)
When the rain was pouring down, the Referee sin-binned Army’s star player Sudaraka Dikkumbura, and it was a crucial juncture in the game. After a minute, the Referee, Alexander, equalised the players on the field by showing a yellow card to the Police hooker, Vihanga, for tackling a player who was in the air.
Subsequently, the police launched a fierce attack on the army and searched for another score. Suddenly, the police fullback went for a punt kick, and the police winger, Sujan Kodithuwakku, chased and secured the possession just before planting a much-needed try. Then Kaliova added some Fijian flavour to the encounter by nailing a brilliant conversion.
(Police 22 – 14 Army)
After securing the lead, the Cops tightened the pressure on Army and advanced into the red zone of the hosts. Then Army was caught for not rolling away at a tackle, and the police skipper opted for a scrum. Again the Skipper, Shanaka Harishchandra, made a No. 08 break and barged his way over the try line by pushing a couple of tacklers. Kaliova nailed another conversion for Police by taking the game away from the reach of the soldiers. (Police 29 – 14 Army)
During the dying stage of the game, the Army players displayed a spirited effort to seal a consolation try. However, the Army defence was unshaken and prevented multiple attacks during the final minutes of play. Finally, the Referee blew the long whistle, and the Police completed a superb resurgence to grab a crucial victory after trailing 14 – 10 at half Time.
Full Time: Police SC 29 (5 T, 2 C) – Army SC 14 (2 T, 2 C)
Swisstek Player of the Match: Shanaka Harishchandra (Police SC)
Points Breakdown
Police SC – 29
Kaliova Mecetrada 1 T, 2 C, Heshan Kalhara 1 T, Shanaka Harishchandra 2 T, Sujan Kodithuwakku 1 T,
Army SC – 14
Lahiru Rathnayake 1 T, 2 C, Praveen Ransika 1 T
