K. Jahangir
LAHORE: Lahore Hawks and Army continued their impressive form in the 12th Service Tyres Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU) 15-a-Side National Rugby Championship, securing convincing victories in their latest matches at the Pakistan Rugby Academy, Lahore Cantt.
The premier domestic rugby event, organised by the Pakistan Rugby Union, witnessed two one-sided contests as Lahore Hawks overwhelmed Police while Army produced a commanding performance against Desert Camels Fort Abbas. PRU President Rizwan Malik, along with Shakeel Malik, Syed Moazzam Ali Shah, Muhammad Asim and a large number of rugby enthusiasts, attended the matches and appreciated the high standard of competition. Speaking on the occasion, Rizwan Malik said the championship had provided an excellent platform for the country’s top rugby players to showcase their talent. He expressed optimism that the tournament would help identify and prepare a strong Pakistan 15-a-side national team by the end of the season.
The championship features six leading teams, Islamabad Jinns, Lahore Hawks, Army, Police, WAPDA and Desert Camels Fort Abbas, competing for national honours. In the opening match of the day, Lahore Hawks thumped Police 69-0. The Hawks dominated from the start and went into halftime with a commanding 22-0 lead before producing an even stronger second-half performance.
Umar was the star performer for Lahore Hawks, scoring five tries, while Arsalan and Waqas contributed two tries each. Ahmad, Salman and Hassan also crossed the line once each to complete a comprehensive victory. In the second encounter, Army defeated Desert Camels Fort Abbas 48-5 after establishing a strong foundation with a 26-0 halftime advantage. Army’s Mudassar led the scoring charts with three tries, while Sadaqat, Wahab and Rehman added one try each to seal another dominant win.
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