Kandy SC remained unbeaten at the top of the table with yet another close win over CH&FC while Police SC stunned Havelocks SC to dampen the Park Club’s chances of reaching the top of the table as the 6th Week of the Nippon Paint Rugby League 2022/23 came to an end.
Police SC v Havelocks SC
Full time: 21 – 19
The Park Club came into this week after two successive bonus point wins. They were the more fancied team to take the win in their own backyard but the Cops had other ideas.
Two tries apiece from both sides saw Police take the 2-point lead going into lemons. Chanaka Chandimal and Randitha Warnapura scored for Havies while Nisal Samadhi and Shanaka Harishchandra crossed the whitewash for Police. Both tries were converted by fly-half Yohan Pieris for Police while Sandesh Jayawickrama only managed one conversion.
Yohan Peiris scored the third try and converted it to give the Cops a 9-point lead. Havies responded immediately with a converted try through Vimukthi Rahula. With 20 minutes remaining on the clock, both teams failed to score points as Cops held on to a shock win over the Havies.
Kandy SC v CH&FC
Full time: 27 – 25
The defending Champions held on to yet another close win as they beat CH&FC by 2 points to remain unbeaten at the top.
It was Kandy’s second game in Colombo on the bounce. The fans at Race Course were treated to a thriller which went right down to the wire. Kandy SC scored three tries through Kavindu Perera, Tharinda Ratwatte and Uchitha Jayasuriya in the first half and took a 17-8 before the break.
In the second half, the home side crawled back with a couple of tries from Yoshitha Rajapaksha but Kandy managed to score the bonus point try through Chathurya Soyza which sealed the game.
CR&FC v Navy SC
Full Time: 33 – 27
CR&FC jumped to the second spot with a convincing win over Navy SC at Longdon Place on Sunday.
The hosts were trailing at the break with the Sailors leading 15-13. Harsha Maduranga and Dinesh De Silva scored for the visitors while CR managed a try from Ashan Darling and couple of penalties from Chathura Senevirathne.
Couple of yellow cards for Navy paved the way for two converted tries from Murshid Zubair and Thenuka Nanayakkara which turned the game around.
Navy cut back the deficit through Lahiru Herath’s try but CR responded with a try through Gemunu Chethiya and a penalty from Chathura Senevirathne to seal the game. During injury time, Nirosh Perera scored a try for Navy which earned them a losing bonus point.
Air Force SC v Army SC
Full Time: 27 – 19
Air Force got back to winning ways with a convincing win over Army at Panagoda on Sunday.
The soldiers led at half time scoring the only try of the half through Kaveen Perera. The second half was a thrilling affair with both teams going toe-to-toe. Inside the first ten minutes of the second half, both teams scored two tries a-piece with the Soldiers converting both while Air Force failed to bisect the uprights.
Despite having a 9-point lead going into final 20 minutes, Soldiers let the game slip away. The Airmen scored two back-to-back tries through Kaushan Malinda to seal the win.
7th Week Fixtures of Nippon Paint Rugby League 2023
27th January, Friday
Navy SC v Air Force SC at Welisara
28th January, Saturday
Havelocks SC v Kandy SC at Havelock Park
Police SC v CH&FC at Police Park
29th January, Sunday
CR&FC v Army SC at Longdon Place
