CR & FC returned to winning ways in the ongoing Dialog Rugby League 2014/15 when they registered a 33-15 win over their traditional rivals, CH & FC on Sunday at Longden Place.
After two losses in the previous weeks’, CR & FC were languishing in the middle of the points table after being in the top 3 during the early stages and needed a win with a bonus point while disappointing CH & FC wanted a disciplined effort against their old rivals.
CH fly-half Rimzie Jamaldeen kicked off the game on a perfect day for open rugby. After 3 minutes of opening exchanges, CR got the first opportunity to put points on the board when a CH player hesitated to roll away and was penalized but Nalin Kumar’s 27-meter kick failed to bisect the uprights. CR received another penalty few minutes later through superb work by Puppy Farrell in the breakdown and once again Nalin Kumara messed up the kick.
Against the run of play, CH drew first blood when their burly number 8 Rusiate Vakaula sneaked through the CR defense after his skipper Radeesha Senevirathne took a quick tap from a penalty advantage and off-loaded meters away from the try line to Dilshan Kelaniyagoda who easily touched down to give the early lead to the visitors. Rimizie Jamaldeen added the extra points. (CR 00 – CH 07)
The hosts replied right away through a superb Robbie Malneek break as the center three-quarter took his team near the try line and gave a timely pass to winger Anuradha Herath who finished off the move with a diving try near the corner flag. Nalin Kumara converted perfectly. (CR 07 – CH 07) After 23 minutes of exciting rugby by both teams, CR & FC edged forward through a 37-meter penalty kick by Nalin Kumara as the referee caught the visitors off-side.
(CR 10 – CH 07)
Just over 30 minutes on the game clock, CH lost their flanker, Ganindu Lakshan for 10 minutes after the former Isipathanian took out his opponent in the air and CR pounced on the one-man advantage to score off a driving maul by flanker Sasanka Ariyarathne. Nalin Kumara failed to convert the try. (CR 15 – CH 07)
With only few minutes left before the half-time whistle, CR & FC extended their lead through Nalin Kumara’s boot as he kicked an easy 20-meter penalty kick after the visitors defense line was infringed for offside play.
Half-time: CR & FC 18 (2T, 1C, 2P) – CH & FC 07 (1T, 1C)
After the lemons break, CR skipper and play maker Ashan De Costa restarted the game. As equivalent to the 1st half, CH scored the first points of the 2nd half when their outside back Rimzie Jamaldeen slotted over a 30-meter penalty when a CR tackler was penalized for not releasing the tackled player on the ground. (CR 18 – CH 10)
As the sun eased down and a cool breeze started to blow across the ground, both teams tried their utmost best to penetrate their opponents defense lines though CR & FC had the 90% of the territory and possession in the 3rd quarter of the match. CH skipper Radeesha Senevirathne was sent to the ‘Naughty Chair’ for 10 minutes after he purposely interrupted pass which knocked on and the hosts were given a 25-meter penalty kick which Nalin Kumara missed.
As soon as the last quarter of the match commenced, CR hard work inside CH territory paid off when their hooker Arun Kumar barged over a well-deserved team try. Nalin Kumara once again spoiled the conversion. (CR 23 – CH 10)
CH made many errors around the fringes which gave away the ball to the opponents and they were starved of possession. In the 68th minute of the match, former Peterite and CR winger Anuradha Herath scored his 2nd try of the match as the hosts used their speedy backs to great effect and opened up holes in CH defense and scored the bonus point securing try. Nalin Kumara failed to convert. (CR 28 – CH 10)
The lackluster CH & FC players were falling behind drastically and with the game gone from their grasps, they scored a consolation try using the width of the field and made inroads into the CR territory as captain Radeesha Senevirathne scored near the far corner. Rimzie missed the conversion. (CR 28 – CH 15)
The main architect of the win, skipper Ashan De Costa capped off his good game with a brilliant 50-meter dash to the try line after intercepting a pass from CH scrum-half Shezan Saleh in the 75th minute to put the final nail in the CH coffin. Costa missed the conversion of his own try and few minutes later referee blew the final whistle to end the game.
Full-time: CR & FC 33 (5T, 1C, 2P) – CH & FC 15 (2T, 1C, 1C)
ThePapare Man of the Match – Ashan Costa
Referee – Clement Issac
Pleased CR & FC head coach Imthi Marikkar shared his views on the game with www.thepapare.com, “ Happy to have a win with a bonus point after two losses. There are lots of positives out of the match, the team played to a proper structure and according to the game plan.”
CH&FC: Sanjeewa Priyadharashana, Hamza Hassan, Eroshan De Alwis, Vasula Wimalawera, Uthpala Saranga, Ganidu Lakshan, Radeesha Senevirathene, Rusiate Vakula, Shehzan Saleh, Rimze Jamaldeen, Eranda Ranweera, Dilshan Kelaniyagoda, Musheen Faleel, Pabasara Madawa, Tamara Ioane, Kokila Hiran, Dilusha Pathirakumara, Irwin Roger, Miuru Hewawasam, Hasthika Bandaranayake, Rajitha Sansoni, Dinesh Lakshan.
CR&FC: Nipuna Devinda, Arun Kumar, Shane Samadapperuma, Vasaba Senerath, Dilanka Perera, Rajitha Abeykoon, Sasanka Ariyarathne, Puppy Farral, Rahul De Silva, Ashan de Costa, Nalin Kumara, Robbie Malneek, Amila Bandara, Anuradha Herath, Rochana Hettiarachchi, Malith Hettiarchchi, Shameer Fajudeen, Joel Perera, Sithum Peiris, Dilan Zoysa, Billy Rophia, Finau Vaioloa, Hashan Maduranga.
