Another second week’s clash of the Maliban Inter-Club Rugby League 2025/26 (Plate Segment) was staged as the Air Force SC took on Army SC at the Army Grounds in Panagoda. The game lived up to all of its billing, and the Airmen showcased a spirited effort to post a crucial victory during the close tussle.
The army started the proceedings of the day with a deep high-hanging kick. Without taking any risk by playing inside their own 22-metre line, the Air Force made a fine clearance kick. After a few minutes, the soldiers advanced into Airmen territory after making a fine block against a clearance kick. Though the Air Force fullback did well to secure the position, they gifted a silly penalty for an obstruction offence. After earning a five-metre lineout, the Army attacked with pick-and-go passage. While the soldiers moved forward inch by inch, Dhanushka Pushpakumara crossed the whitewash to plant the first try of the game. The difficult conversion kick missed the target just by a few inches. (Army 05 – 00 Air Force)
Then the soldiers had something to celebrate as they grabbed possession through a knocked-on ball at the centre line and went all the way for their second try. But the video replays displayed that the initial knock-on came from an Army player; hence, the try was disallowed.
A few moments later, Airmen gained possession inside the Army territory after a soldier was penalised for holding on to the ball. The airmen spotted the weakness in the army defence, and without wasting any time, they took a quick tap and attacked. After reaching the 22-metre line, the Air Force scrum-half deceived the Army defence with a “show and go” pass and penetrated through. Though the soldiers somehow managed to stop him before crossing the try line, with a short pass the Air Force hooker Shamika Kaushan crossed the whitewash with a diving effort towards the left corner. But the Air Force failed to add the extras from the difficult angle. (Army 05 – 05 Air Force)
Again, the hosts launched a fierce attack into the red zone of the Air Force and did well to create a try-scoring opportunity. But unfortunately the Army winger made a knock-on while he was trying to ground the ball.
Later, Air Force forwards came to the party when they powered their way forward during an Air Force scrum. The penalty was followed by another penalty, as the soldiers were penalised for their failure to retreat 10 metres after conceding the penalty. Then the Air Force took a five-metre line out, which was followed by a typical driving maul. The airmen couldn’t make much progress out of the maul option, hence they switched the ball towards the three-quarters. After working the ball from the left corner to the right corner, Air Force winger Arosh Rathnayake planted the second try for the visitors. (Army 05 – 10 Air Force)
Since then, though the brawl between the sides continued, both of the sides failed to trouble the scorers until the short whistle.
Halftime: Army SC 05 (1 T) – Air Force SC 10 (2 T)
The Airmen kicked off the second half again with a deep and high-hanging kick. After ten minutes of play, the Air Force advanced into the 22-metre area of Army territory courtesy of a side entry penalty conceded by soldiers. Later, the Air Force forwards laboured in search of a try and unfortunately made a knock-on. Hence, the Army received a scrum in their favour, but again the Airmen bulldozed their way towards the try line and made a turnover. Once the ball emerged at the back of Air Force forwards who were bound to the scrum, the nippy half-back Kaluarachchi did the rest by planting a try by using the blind side. This time the Airmen’s reliable place kicker, Gayantha Iddamalgoda, made a fantastic conversion from the far left corner. (Air Force 17 – 05 Army)
After some furious actions, Airmen secured a five-metre lineout as the Army defence was again penalised for an offside play. Subsequently, Air Force forwards put in a massive effort to find a breakthrough. Suddenly the ball was given to the backs, and after a few passes, centre Dinesh Victor broke the defensive line and planted an important try. Place kicker Lahiru Rathnayake nailed the easy conversion to cut the deficit. (Army 12 – 17 Air Force)
A few moments later, the Air Force had a timely kick to the soldier’s territory, and the soldier’s replacement winger, Gaurava Pannila, made a fumble with a ball near the touchline, resulting in a lineout in favour of the Air Force. Then Air Force forwards flexed their muscles and launched another fierce attack on the Army defensive wall. During the course the soldiers gave away a penalty for an offside offence. The trusted boot of Gayantha Iddamalgoda continued to be a point accumulator as he bisected the posts. (Air Force 20 – Army 12)
During the dying stage of the game, scintillating rugby action was unveiled as Iddamalgoda spotted a no man’s land at the back of Army territory and made a fine kick. Though the Army winger was the first man to arrive at the ball, with an awkward bounce he lost his footing, and the ball went right into the chasing Air Force winger Rathnayake. Though the Army player recovered from his initial mistake by grabbing the ball carrier, Rathnayake offloaded the ball to his supporting player, Pramodya Padmasanka, who was unmarked and ran all the way to the right corner to seal the deal with the bonus point try. The conversion kick, which came from a difficult angle, went astray. (Air Force 25 – Army 12)
At the brink of the long whistle, the Army brigade ambushed into the Airmen’s 22-metre area, but an ill-disciplined attack cost them the chance to score a consolation try. With this marvellous victory the Airmen have already secured the Plate Championship with a game to spare with their dazzling performances displayed throughout the Maliban Club Rugby League.
Full-time: Air Force Sports Club 25 (4 T, 1 C, 1 P) – Army Sports Club 12 (2 T, 1 C)
- Swisstek Player of the Match – Gayantha Iddamalgoda (Air Force SC)
Points Breakdown
Air Force Sports Club – 25
Shamika Kaushan1 T, Pramodya Padmasanka 1 T, Arosh Rathnayake 1 T, Kaveesha Kaluarachchi 1 T, Gayantha Iddamalgoda 1 C, 1 P,
Army Sports Club – 12
Dhanushka Pushpakumara 1 T, Dinesh Victor 1 T, Lahiru Rathnayake 1 C
 was staged as the Air Force SC took on Army SC at the Army Grounds in Panagoda. The game lived up to all of its billing, and the Airmen showcased a spirited effort to post a crucial victory during the close tussle. ){kind=link}