The New year is here and so is Rugby as the 4th Week of the Nippon Paint Rugby League 2022/23 kicked off last Friday.
Police SC v Air Force SC
Full time: 21 – 15
A sigh of relief for the Cops as they secured their first win of the season, beating the in-form Air Force SC by 21-15 at Ratmalana on Friday. The game was hanging in the balance at half time with the visitors leading 14-10 with two tries from Nisal Samadhi and Ashan Fernando.
Police started strongly in the second half with another converted try from Mohommad Fawmy. The Airmen had more than enough time to stage a comeback but they could only manage a solitary try in the second half through Veteran Parakrama Ratnayake to earn a losing bonus point from the game.
Kandy SC v Navy SC
Full time: 21 – 18
Another week, another win for the defending Champions Kandy SC as they beat the traveling Navy SC by 21 points to 18 at Nittawala on Saturday. Kandy is the only unbeaten team in the tournament but the rest of the teams get closer and closer to beat the defending champions every passing week.
On Saturday, Kandy SC’s long lost hero Dhanushka Ranjan got on to the scoresheet after several years with the opening try. Uchitha Jayasundara and Damian Ratwatte scored the other two while Tarinda Ratwatte converted all three tries.
The Sailors scored two tries through Pulasthi Dasanayaka and Radeesha Senevirathne while Kandy boy Samuel Maduwantha scored a penalty, a drop goal and a conversion. They were within touching distance with 15 minutes remaining on the clock, but unfortunately they failed to penetrate the Kandy defense.
Havelock SC v Army SC
Full Time: 31 – 15
This game started on Saturday and ended on Monday. The referee deemed it was unsafe to play with the ground condition on Saturday after the heavy rainfall during the first half which flooded the Ratmalana Air Force Grounds. The officials and the teams agreed to play the second half of the game on Monday. However, it was the Park Boys who dominated the struggling soldiers over the two days.
Havies led at half time 17-8 with tries from Christian De Lile and Niwanka Prasad. In the second half on Monday, Mithun Hapugoda and Shanaka Herath scored two tries to secure the win and the bonus point for Havies. Army’s disappointing season continued as they scored only one try through Danilsha Dissanayaka and earned a penalty try in the second half.
CR&FC v CH&FC
Full time: 27 – 19
The Maitland Derby lived up to its expectations but it was the boys from Longdon Place who got the better of the Gymkhana Club at the Race Course grounds on Saturday. CR had a strong first half to lead 20-8 going in to half time. Tries from Murshid Zubair and Gemunu Chethiya to go with two conversions and two penalties from Chathura Senevirathne earned them the lead.
In the second stanza, Chethiya scored a brace to extend their lead. CH had the chance to come back into the game when CR were down to 12 at one point in the second half. The boys from Longdon Place conceded five yellow cards but fortunately it didn’t cost them the game. CH&FC’s sole try came from Janidu Dilshan.
CH&FC face Havies as Kandy face Police at Cops den
The 5th week of matches of the League will kick off on the 12th Friday in Welisara with the game between Navy SC and Army SC. The Sailors are favorites to win the game and they will be determined to shrug off last weeks defeat with a win.
The double header on Saturday will feature Kandy SC who will reach Colombo to face a confident Police side who won their first game last week. Havelocks will face CH&FC at the Race Course on Saturday as well. On Sunday, Air Force will host CR&FC to finish off the week.
Fixtures
Navy SC v Army SC on 13th, Friday at 4.00pm in Welisara
Kandy SC v Police SC on 14th, Saturday at 4.00pm in Police Park
Havelocks SC v CH&FC on 14th, Saturday at 4.00pm in Racecoure Grounds
CR&FC v Air Force SC on 15th, Sunday at 4.00pm in Ratmalana
