The Army Sports Club kept their Plate Segment hopes alive in the SLR-MasterCard Club Rugby League with a commanding second-half performance, securing a 35-16 victory over Sri Lions at the Racecourse Stadium in Colombo.
Despite trailing 12-16 at halftime, the Soldiers dominated after the break, scoring 23 unanswered points to claim a bonus-point win. Their tally included four tries, three conversions, and three penalties, while Sri Lions managed only two unconverted tries and two penalties.
The game started with Army’s flanker Kasun Bandara scoring an early try in the second minute for a 5-0 lead. However, a high tackle saw Army winger Manoj Kumara sin-binned in the 10th minute, allowing Sri Lions to capitalize. Centre Dinuk Amarasinghe’s try leveled the scores at 5-5 before lock Denuwan Silva added another unconverted try in the 17th minute, giving Sri Lions a 10-5 lead. A penalty from flyhalf Chanaka Chandimal extended their advantage to 13-5 in the 22nd minute.
Army responded through prop Dhanilsha Dissanayake’s try, converted by fullback Isuru Medagedara, narrowing the deficit to 13-12. Another Chandimal penalty in the 33rd minute gave Sri Lions a slim 16-12 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Army take control. Flyhalf Gayan Salinda reduced the gap with a penalty in the 51st minute before slotting another in the 52nd to put Army ahead 18-16. A crucial turning point came when Sri Lions’ No.8 Mohamed Nizran was sin-binned, giving Army the edge.
Dissanayake then powered through for his second try in the 60th minute, with Salinda’s conversion extending the lead to 25-16. A knock-on from Sri Lions in the 77th minute handed Army an attacking scrum, allowing Bandara to grab his second try, stretching the margin to 32-16. Centre Lahiru Ratnayake sealed the win with a penalty at full-time, completing a dominant 35-16 triumph.
Army’s superior second-half display, led by Salinda’s accurate kicking and Dissanayake’s impactful runs, ensured a crucial win and a valuable bonus point in their Plate Segment campaign.
