Army rode on a brilliant individual performance by skipper Dulani Pallikondage outgunned Navy in a fiercely contested Cup final 19-10 to emerge champions in the Women’s Inter-Club (Segment I) Sevens Rugby Tournament at Havelock Park yesterday. Dulani scored two spectacular tries in the second half to be adjudged the Player of the Tournament in a final marred by the yellow card given to Navy’s Shanika Madumalee apparently for using bad language against her own team mate shortly before the interval. Army skipper Dulani Pallikondage receiving the winning trophy from the chief guest Ted Hiran Muttiah, COO of SAGT, at Havelock Park yesterday.
Defending champions Navy asserted their authority early in the game with a sweeping move pinning Army in their 22. Despite losing possession, Navy kept up the pressure and stole the ball from the breakdown as Army fail to exit from the danger zone for Dilrukshi Nahelbage to draw first blood by scoring in the right corner for an unconverted try. Army who had racked up 141 points in the three matches before the final got their act together and swarmed into the Navy half who defended stoutly before the complexion of the match changed by the controversial sin bin decision of the referee.
Last year runner-up, Army made the advantage count by scoring either side of the break when Navy were a player less. Ayesha Perera burst through on the right rolling over the line to level the scores 5-5 before Dulani produced her first spark of brilliance soon after the turn around.The Army skipper made a break on the left flank before brilliantly stepping inside the last defender on the 40-metre mark to score under the post. Charana Theekshana converted to give Army a 12-5 cushion.
Navy who scored 149 points before the final, stormed back into contention to close the gap 10-12 with an unconverted try but Dulani sealed the outcome of the title clash by haring away from the halfway line after receiving a superb pass to score near the posts for a converted try for the final tally of 19-10. The champion Army team comprised Nadika Munasinghe, Dinesha Silva, Ashoka DG, Dinusha Maduwanthi, Dilini Kanchana, Shanika Dilani, Nimesha Sudarshani, Charani Liyanage, Rukshani Ariyasena, Nilmini Weerasinghe, Ayesha Perera and Dulani Pallikondage.
Air Force led by Ayesha Kaluarachchi won the Plate defeating Army ‘B’ 20-0. CR and FC captained by Kavisha Ishani beat Sabaragamuwa 48-7 to clinch the Bowl title while Navy Development team led by Gayani Randunu had the consolation of winning the Shield romping to a 36-0 win over Sourthern team. Ted Hiran Muttiah, Chief Commercial Office of South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd, sponsors of Sri Lanka women’s rugby, was the chief guest.