The Maliban Inter-Club Rugby League 2025/26 resumed over the weekend following a two-week break, delivering several compelling fixtures, highlighted by Air Force Sports Club continuing their winning streak and the Sri Lanka Army Rugby team securing their first victory of the season.
Air Force Soar Past Sailors
In a week 5 fixture on December 13th, Air Force Sports Club faced Navy Sports Club at the Air Force Grounds in Ratmalana. Air Force was aiming to continue their unbeaten run, while Navy was searching for their first win of the season. The Air Men played with the wind advantage early on, forcing errors on the Sailors. The first points came after about 20 minutes via a three-pointer slotted by Gayantha Iddamalgoda.
Air Force’s attack intensified, with Maleesha Weerakoon scoring the first try of the game by piercing the Navy defense. Just before halftime, hooker Shamika Kaushan dived over after a well-planned front peel off a lineout. Iddamalgoda added another three-pointer just on the stroke of halftime, giving Air Force a comfortable 18-00 lead (2T, 1C, 2P).
Navy scored their first points early in the second half after Air Force prop forward Pathum Pieris was sin-binned for a high shot, allowing Chirantha Kaluarachchi to score and Thilina Weerasinghe to convert. However, Navy’s high penalty count allowed Iddamalgoda to slot another three-pointer, maintaining the gap. Navy scored again through No. 8 Isuru Perera, bringing the score to 21-14. Air Force sealed the victory when Shashika Fernando put in a commanding run for a final try, which Iddamalgoda successfully converted. Air Force won the match 28-14 (3T, 2C, 3P). Gayantha Iddamalgoda was named the Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match.
Thriller at Longdon Place: Chandimal’s Boot Delivers for CH & FC
In a high-stakes clash on December 13th at Longdon Place, CH & FC edged out CR & FC in a thrilling encounter, securing a breakthrough 34-32 victory. The game saw many twists, with CH & FC prevailing thanks largely to Janith Chandimal’s brilliant bootwork.
After an early penalty advantage, Chandimal slotted a drop goal for the first points. CH’s Jushua De-Lile scored the first try from a 5-metre scrum after heavy CH forwards bulldozed their way. CR & FC countered with two tries from Omalaka Gunarathne, leveraging their iconic rolling maul, to take a brief lead. CH quickly responded when halfback Maliksha Perera scored their second try. Following a late charge yellow card for CH’s Lahiru Thilakarathne, the visitor’s foreign player, Turuva Serupipeli, ran from his own half to score a magnificent try. CR struck back, and at halftime, CH & FC held a narrow 22-17 lead.
In the second half, CR’s Pasindu Bandara scored his second try, leveling the game at 22-22. However, Chandimal consistently punished CR’s mistakes, nailing multiple penalties, including one curved kick against the strong wind, to extend CH’s lead. Although CR fought back, scoring a late try through Naveen Marasinghe, and briefly regaining the lead via a penalty from Nanayakkara (31-32), Chandimal secured the win with the final penalty kick. CH & FC won 34 (3 T, 1DG, 2 C, 4 P) to CR & FC 32 (5 T, 2 C, 1 P). Notably, CR & FC secured both the try and losing bonus points, while CH failed to secure the try bonus. Janith Chandimal was awarded the AWISSTEK Perfect Player of the Match.
Kandy Thumps Police with Second-Half Burst
Kandy Sports Club played their first home game since the league break on December 14th, defeating Police Sports Club 49-17. The defending champions started strongly, with Dinal Ekanayake scoring the first try. Despite Police clawing back to take a halftime lead of 17-10 after a yellow card to Kandy’s Dilshan Fareed, Kandy brought their “A-Game” in the second half.
Kandy equalized early in the second half with a push-over try from No. 8 Dahan Wickramaarachchi. The home side then surged ahead, with Dinal Ekanayake scoring Kandy’s bonus point winning try, set up by Srinath Sooriyabandara. Kandy forwards dominated thereafter, with Dilshan Fareed and Kenula Hettiarachchi scoring tries from rolling mauls. The remainder of the game belonged to Srinath Sooriyabandara and Kavindu Perera. Sooriyabandara, named the Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match, created gaps and offloaded for Kavindu Perera to score two late tries, sealing the 49-17 victory.
Army Secures First Victory of the Season
In other action, the Sri Lanka Army Rugby team managed a comeback in both halves to secure their first win of the Maliban Inter-Club Rugby League 2025/26, dismantling Siri Lions 26-17 at Longdon Place on December 12th. Siri Lions started strongly, scoring twice through Dilanjaya Yohan and Nizran Nilar.
Army fought back just before the break, using the rumbling maul to set up tries for Ijaz Ahamed and Nalaka Maduranga, leveling the score at 12-12 by halftime. Siri Lions briefly regained the lead early in the second half with a try from Teran Karunanayake. However, Army’s forwards proved too powerful, with Naveen Chandrasena crashing over from close range, giving Army their first lead, which Dinesh Victor converted. Army’s maul proved to be a “thorn in the flesh” of Siri Lions. Breaking off yet another maul in the 78th minute, Vinod Kumara secured the game and the bonus point win. Ijaz Ahamed was named the Swisstec Perfect Player of the Match.