BUA
05-29-2006, 02:41 PM
A final minute try by CH hooker Achala Perera took his side to a hard fought victory over a vastly improved Havelocks by 15 points to 13 in their opening Caltex “A” division league rugby match at Havelock Park yesterday after trailing the game 3-8 at the short whistle.
The CH team had their game plans turned upside down at the start after Havelocks produced an outstanding performance in loose play combined with some hard tackling.
Havelocks scrum half Dilan Sanjeewa and full back Duleep Methruwan played a hard and knowledgeable game to give their side the edge over a heavier and bigger CH team.
Saliya Kumara put CH into the lead with a penalty but Havelocks in a second attempt succeeded in equalizing through a penalty by Sajith Bandara.
Six minutes later Havelocks turned on the game when flanker T. D. Seneviratne broke way from a scrum and smothered a kick by CH fly-half Mohamed Saldin to collect the ball on the rebound and score for the home team to lead 8-3 at half time.
Before the first half ended Havelocks captain Ruwan Suranga was sin-binned by referee Nizam Jamaldeen for a dangerous tackle.
But Havelocks held back CH with 14 players and then surprised everyone through a try by scrum half Dilan Sanjeewa after initiating a move from their own 22.
The try went unconverted for Havelocks to lead 13- 3.
However 10 minutes later CH centre Matheesha Silva breached the defence to score a try followed by Achela Perera crossing the line for the match-winning try which was converted by Saliya Kumara.
The CH team had their game plans turned upside down at the start after Havelocks produced an outstanding performance in loose play combined with some hard tackling.
Havelocks scrum half Dilan Sanjeewa and full back Duleep Methruwan played a hard and knowledgeable game to give their side the edge over a heavier and bigger CH team.
Saliya Kumara put CH into the lead with a penalty but Havelocks in a second attempt succeeded in equalizing through a penalty by Sajith Bandara.
Six minutes later Havelocks turned on the game when flanker T. D. Seneviratne broke way from a scrum and smothered a kick by CH fly-half Mohamed Saldin to collect the ball on the rebound and score for the home team to lead 8-3 at half time.
Before the first half ended Havelocks captain Ruwan Suranga was sin-binned by referee Nizam Jamaldeen for a dangerous tackle.
But Havelocks held back CH with 14 players and then surprised everyone through a try by scrum half Dilan Sanjeewa after initiating a move from their own 22.
The try went unconverted for Havelocks to lead 13- 3.
However 10 minutes later CH centre Matheesha Silva breached the defence to score a try followed by Achela Perera crossing the line for the match-winning try which was converted by Saliya Kumara.