Police ground Air Force under gloomy skies | Sunday Observer

Police ground Air Force under gloomy skies

13 February, 2022
Police SC flanker Vageesha Weerasinghe is held  by an Air Force SC defender
Police SC flanker Vageesha Weerasinghe is held by an Air Force SC defender

Police clipped the wings of the more fancied Air Force to record their first win in the SLR (Sri Lanka Rugby) ‘A’ division league rugby tournament at Police Park yesterday as the ‘blue shirts’ notched an impressive 11-3 victory lightening up a gloomy evening with some electrifying rugby in their backyard.

Police’s points came from an unconverted try and two penalty goals to which Air Force replied with a solitary penalty goal.

The margin of victory would have been bigger if Police had a reliable goal kicker to convert their dominant play into points.

The match began in overcast conditions with the second half played almost in semi-darkness with persistent drizzle and thunder growling above. But it did not dampen the spirits of Police who played with more enterprise than Air Force.

Police took the upper hand from the opening whistle rattling the opposition with their pace and power.

Police underlined their dominance by sweeping to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter as their three-quarters phased-out moves with gay abandon using their forwards.

Their heavyweights Rasith Silva and Danush Edirisinghe were used as battering rams while Dimalka Tillekeratne joined the line frequently in attack.

But it was off a counter attack that Police breached the Air Force defence in the 12th minute following a spectacular diagonal kick from deep inside their territory by right winger Sachith Silva. It was perhaps the longest kick of the match. The Air Force defence was caught flat footed and buckled under the pressure. Police flanker Vageesha Weerasinghe swooped on the ball to touch down. Yohan Peiris was awry with the conversion.

Three minutes later Sachith Silva made no mistake with a penalty conversion to give Police an 8-0 advantage.

Air Force to their credit fought back to virtually pitch camp in Police half thereafter. Police fly half Yohan Peiris stood firm to relieve pressure though he could not find touch with some of his line kicks. Air Force winger Darshana Dabare made a lovely break before half time but failed to break the Police fortress.

Air Force enjoyed abundant possession stealing ball from Police line outs as well and dominated passages of play but never looked like scoring. Their three-quarters were leaden footed and dropped the ball like hot potatoes at crucial moments to let slip the advantage. Their forwards executed the driving maul off a line out only on one occasion.

On the other hand Police were not shy to run with the ball even when it started raining with wingers Janith Chanaka and Sachith Silva making some scything runs.

Air Force skipper Nuwan Perera reduced the deficit to 3-8 in the 66th minute by converting a penalty. But Yohan Peiris was on target in the 78th minute with a penalty conversion to give Police an 11-8 triumph. Gihan Yatawara refereed

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