Army Sports Club secures first season win

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Army Sports Club in a flamboyant performance secured their first season win against Air Force Sports Club in today’s encounter played at the Rathmalana Air Force Grounds. The final scores stood as 46 – 14 in favour of the visitors.

Both teams displayed a competitive level of rugby in the first half as both sides were on the attack from the kick off itself. Army drew first blood through Nishantha Kotalawela who broke through the entire defense line of the Air Force players to eventually score under the post. Minutes later Army players were penalized for playing offside, giving the chance for Gayantha Iddamalgoda from Air Force to score the first points for his side through an easy penalty conversion.

Air Force was on the attack after this penalty onwards putting more pressure on the visitors. They used their three quarters to their full potential to score more points in the early stages of the match to try and get hold of the lead. There were many instances where the home team came inches away to the try line and failed to convert them into points due to silly handling errors. Army on the other side was continuously being penalized for being offside. As a result Air Force was awarded with an easy penalty which they failed to covert.

Charith Senevirathne of Air Force put a massive 45 yard penalty over the post against the prevailing windy conditions with much ease to bring back some glory to the home side and the score to 10 -06. Army came back into the game with a solid try worked off from the forwards to the wing three resulting in a try scored by Ruwan Danwaththage.  In reply the home side managed to bridge the gap with a try scored by Buddi Bandara. 

Just seconds before the end of the first half Army Number eight, Tukitaga Savenaca spotting a gap and broke through the defense to create a scoring opportunity for Saliya Handdapangoda under the post.

At half time the scores read as 22- 11 in favour of Army Sports Club.

The first stages of the second half showed less intensity from the first half  in which both sides were at each other with quick balls and dashing runs whizzing past each other which enthralled the crowd. 

The home team were the first to score in the second half which ended up being their final points before the game turned on its head through the faithful boot of Gayantha Iddamalgoda.

Thereafter it was Army all the way till the end of play as they scored four consecutive tries. Saliya Handdapangoda went on a rampage scoring a hatrick of tries while Upali Wickramasinghe also chipped in with one. They were also awarded with a penalty try by the referee due to continuous offside play by the Air Force players. Army ran away with the game leaving a shell-shocked Airforce team and supporters.

At Full Time the scores read as 46 points to 14 in favour of Army Sports Club.