Londen Place, Colombo, Feb 29, 9.30PM – Havelock Sports Club showcased an outstanding performance, storming into the semi-finals with a commanding 55-5 victory over Navy Sports Club in the Nippon Paint Clifford Cup Knockout Rugby Tournament quarter-final at Havelock Park. The Havelock team led 29-5 at halftime, securing their win with a remarkable display of skill and teamwork.
The Park Club, also known as Havies, scored five goals and four tries, while Navy SC managed only a solitary try by Stephan Gregory. The Sailors faced a tough season, marking their 11th consecutive loss.
The game kicked off with a bang as Oliver Lal Buckle of Havelock Sports Club scored the first try near the posts, putting Havies in the lead 5-0 in the 10th minute. Despite Samuel Maduwantha’s unsuccessful conversion attempt, Havies continued to dominate.
Riffan Mohomed extended Havies’ lead to 10-0 in the 16th minute with a fantastic run, touching down near the right corner flag after receiving a brilliant pass from Oliver Buckle following a scrum. However, Maduwantha couldn’t convert again.
Winger Dinupa Seneviratne added to the excitement by scoring Havies’ third try in the 20th minute from the left-hand corner with Sudesh Jayawickrama’s assistance. Jayawickrama’s successful conversion brought the score to 17-0 in the 22nd minute.
Navy SC fought back, and Stephan Gregory managed to score their only try in the 25th minute, narrowing the gap to 17-5. Unfortunately, Stevan Sansoni missed the conversion.
Havies continued their dominance in the first half with Senal Silva scoring in the left corner in the 30th minute, making it 22-5. Jayathu Rajaratna seized an opportunity in the 40th minute, running 40 meters after a mistake by Navy SC’s Stephan Gregory. Sandesh Jayawickrama’s successful conversion took the halftime score to 29-5.
Havies carried their momentum into the second half, with Azmir Fajurdeen scoring the first try in the 47th minute, extending the lead to 36-5 after Jayawickrama’s easy kick.
In the 53rd minute, replacement half-back Ravin de Silva added another try, and Jayawickrama’s successful kick brought the score to 43-5.
Udara Lakshan scored the eighth try in the 60th minute, surpassing the half-century mark with Jayawickrama’s additional points, making it 50-5 in favor of Havies.
In the 67th minute, Sooriya Dodangoda scored a brilliant try, taking a pass from Mushin Faleel, bringing the final score to an impressive 55-5. Although Chanaka Chandimal missed the conversion, it didn’t dampen the celebration for Havelock Sports Club.
Dilshan Chathura of Havelock SC was rightfully awarded the Player of the Match, and the game was officiated by referee Ravin Alexander.
