by Ravi Nagahawatte

The ruggerites of Police Sports Club showed that they still had life in them, to be involved in another tournament, when they beat Navy 35-18 in a rousing quarter final fixture, of the President’s Trophy Rugby Tournament, at Longden Place, on Sunday.

The Policemen staged one of the best come-backs seen this season when their forwards rallied to help turn certain defeat into victory.

Navy almost had the game sealed by the 18th minute of play when they ran up an impressive score of 18 points against a solitary penalty by Police.

But the winners slowed down the game to their pace and retaliated with a try through wing three quarter, Ayaz Hossen, to signal their come back.

Former Kingswood player, Harshana Wijeweera, made Police’s task look easy with a simple penalty which cut their opponent’s lead to five points. Police trailed 13-18 at the ‘breather’.

The Police forwards made great advances into Navy territory with their forceful rucking and mauling.

And more often than not, the Navy ruggerites flopped in stopping the fired up Policemen.

The Police ruggerites sent shock waves into the Navy camp when their forwards rocked their opponents with a driving maul.

With possession and full control of the situation they ran the ball and Hossen earned his second try of the match when he burst through to score.

A perfect touch line conversion by Wijeweera made the score 18 all.

Police ran circles around Navy ruggerites and scored twice more to deflate the spirit of the latter.

Veteran second row forward, Upul Peiris, crashed through the Navy defence twice, breaking off a maul and ramming through on both occasions.

Earlier, in the first half, Navy collected their points through tries by G. H. M. P. N. Perera and S.Wijesuriya.

Sham Pradeep and Nishantha Fernando converted a penalty each.