Army in stunning 21-12 win

RANJEEVA SENEVIRATNE

The Sri Lanka Army came up with a stupendous performance to beat the formidable CH and FC by 21 points (one goal, one try, three penalties) to 12 (one goal, one try) after leading 11-7 at the breather in their Caltex ?A? Division League rugby match played at Police Park yesterday.

It was a superb display by the soldiers. Their forwards especially Meepage, Kotalawela, Jayalal, Susantha, Suranga and Ratnayake came up with a sterling display to outplay the famed CH ?eight? while the three quarters made maximum use of the ?good ball? which came their way by running the ball at every opportunity. Full back Kapila Knowlton who had an excellent game joined the line to form the overlap while winger Saliya Handapangoda looked always dangerous with his powerful runs down the flank.

CH and FC surged into the lead in the 14th minute when off a second phase move centre Rushika Fernando burst through to touch down mid right. Sajith Bandara added the extra points to make it 7-nil. Nine minutes later off a five metre short tap Army?s lock forward Ajit Susantha crashed through for a try mid right.

Knowlton missed the conversion (CH 7-5). In the 23rd minute the soldiers snatched the lead when Kapila Knowlton put over a penalty and on the stroke of half time he fired across a 30 metre penalty to give Army a 11-7 lead at ?lemons?.

In the 28th minute of the second half Army?s lock forward A.D. Perera broke away from a five metre line out and powered his way to touch down by the left corner flag. Knowlton made a spectacular conversion and Army led 18-7. Nine minutes later CH reduced the deficit when hooker Senthil Kumar scored mid right. Bandara missed the conversion (Army 18-12).

Three minutes before the final whistle, the soldiers put the issue beyond doubt when Kapila Knowlton fired across a 35-metre penalty and the soldiers ran out worthy winners by 21 points to 12.

Referee: Priyantha Gunaratne.