SLAF Ekala – Winners of the Inter Unit Rugby Championship 2011
4:52pm on Thursday 23rd June 2011
A thrilling encounter between SLAF Ekela and SLAF Regiment Katunayake
terminated the inter unit rugby championship of the Sri Lanka Air Force
which saw 18 teams from the different bases and stations of the SLAF
competing for the title. The long fight ended with the crowning of SLAF
Station Ekala as the Inter Unit Rugby Champions on 21st June 2011 at
sports grounds of SLAF Base Katunayake.
The opponents, the team from the Regiment of SLAF Base Katunayake was on the top at the end of the first half by 08 – 07 points which gave expectations of grander things to come to the home crowd. Sergeant Lasantha Bandara and Aircraftsman Dinush Ratnaweera contributed with a try and a penalty respectively for the home team whilst Flight Lieutenant Dinesh Weeraratna crossed the opponents’ line and Aircraftsman Thisera converted it to a goal for the visiting team.
The latter half of the game totally belonged to Ekala though the Regiment team made a valient effort to regain their lead. Flight Lieutenant Gunawardana and Aircraftsman Weeraratna made a try and a penalty in the second half for Ekala during which time the regiment team couldn’t score. At the end of the full time, Ekala defeated the Regiment team by 15 points to 8 to clinch the Championship.
The Secretary of Sri Lanka Rugby Union Mr. Lasitha Gunaratna graced the occasion as the Chief Guest whilst the Base Commander Katunayake Air Commodore Ranil Gurusinghe and Command Sports Officer Air Commodore Harsha Fernando were also among the distinguished guests. Officers and other ranks of both SLAF Katunayake and SLAF Ekela as well as some die-hard fans from other bases/stations were also present to witness the finals.
The opponents, the team from the Regiment of SLAF Base Katunayake was on the top at the end of the first half by 08 – 07 points which gave expectations of grander things to come to the home crowd. Sergeant Lasantha Bandara and Aircraftsman Dinush Ratnaweera contributed with a try and a penalty respectively for the home team whilst Flight Lieutenant Dinesh Weeraratna crossed the opponents’ line and Aircraftsman Thisera converted it to a goal for the visiting team.
The latter half of the game totally belonged to Ekala though the Regiment team made a valient effort to regain their lead. Flight Lieutenant Gunawardana and Aircraftsman Weeraratna made a try and a penalty in the second half for Ekala during which time the regiment team couldn’t score. At the end of the full time, Ekala defeated the Regiment team by 15 points to 8 to clinch the Championship.
The Secretary of Sri Lanka Rugby Union Mr. Lasitha Gunaratna graced the occasion as the Chief Guest whilst the Base Commander Katunayake Air Commodore Ranil Gurusinghe and Command Sports Officer Air Commodore Harsha Fernando were also among the distinguished guests. Officers and other ranks of both SLAF Katunayake and SLAF Ekela as well as some die-hard fans from other bases/stations were also present to witness the finals.
