Navy edge out Airmen | Daily News

Navy edge out Airmen

Action from the match between Navy SC and Air Force SC (Pic by Sudath Nishantha)
Action from the match between Navy SC and Air Force SC (Pic by Sudath Nishantha)

Dynamic full back Thilina Weerasinghe fired across an injury-time penalty to spearhead Navy SC to a thrilling 32-31 victory over Air Force SC in their SLR Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament deciding first-round encounter played at Welisara yesterday.  

The Sailors, with their third win of the tournament, went on to finish among the top four of the league, and also secured their place in the Cup Championship Super Round segment.  

Navy SC, who were trailing 10-17 at half time, staged a magnificent second-half rally to snatch the game from the jaws of defeat while collecting their points from three goals, one try and two penalties while Air Force SC responded with four goals and one penalty.  

But it was Weerasinghe who delivered the final blow with a trademark 40-metre penalty under tremendous pressure after three quarters had decided to run the ball in a desperate attempt from their own territory.   

Even then, Navy SC were almost down and out of the contest at one stage after Air Force SC built up a commanding 31-10 lead with 10 minutes before the final whistle.  

But in a dramatic turn of events, the home side planted three back-to-back tries through Stephan Gregory, Musheen Faleel and Nirosh Perera before Weerasinghe put the finishing touches with a spectacular penalty.  

Earlier, Air Force SC took the initiative by scoring two tries in the first half with hooker Parakrama Ratnayake going over twice in the space of five minute after scrum half Nuwan Perera had put over a penalty.  

Navy SC made a brief comeback shortly before the break with flanker Janith Laksara scoring a push over try and Weerasinghe added the extra points after having opened the scoring with a 30-metre penalty in the ninth minute. 


Add new comment