CH & FC managed to defeat Navy SC in their first game of the second round in the Dialog Rugby League 2018/19. After things were tied at lemons with both teams scoring 14 points, the home team managed to win the game with the help of a Maduwantha penalty. The final scorecard read 31 points to 28 in favour of CH.
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Samuel Maduwantha kick started proceedings as CH looked sharp from the get-go. With just a minute on the clock Anuradha Herath scored his fourth try this season after showing blistering pace in the near corner and touching down beside the uprights. Maduwantha made no mistake as CH went 7 points up.
However, as the game progressed towards the second quarter of the 1st half, Navy’s prop forward, Kasun De Silva, drew first blood for the Sailors’. After his fellow forwards did the initial hard work and carried Navy inside the CH red-zone, Silva just barged straight through from 5m away. Skipper, Thilina Weerasinghe added the extras. (CH 7 – 7 NSC)
Anuradha Herath - carrying CH & FC's weight in the wing
With both teams dropping ball and leaking penalties, it was a stop-start affair through the 1st half. But, managing to slice through the CH wall of defence 25 minutes into the game, was Buddhima Piyarathna, Navy’s top try scorer – he saw the opening and sprinted his way over to put his side in the lead for the first time – Weerasinghe added the extras. But, the lead only lasted for 10 minutes, as Niwanka Prasad, made a break and stepped his way over to go over the whitewash leveling things up against his former club. As Maduwantha slotted in the extra two, Referee Dinka Peiris blew the half time whistle.
HT: CH (2T 2C) 14 – 14 NSC (2T 2C)
It was like watching the 1st half all over again – 2 minutes into the 2nd half CH scored and 10 minutes later the visitors scored. Both teams threw equal punches at each other, making it a brawl. Maduwantha was the first to open the action, he put his head down from 10 meters away and ended up under the post – for Navy on the other hand, Thanuja Malimbada scored an easy try courtesy of Maduwantha’s misjudge attempting to collect the ball. Both conversions were successful as once again CH & Navy were riding neck-to-neck. (CH 21 – 21 NSC)
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Despite giving away a try, Maduwantha shook off the negativity and somehow managed to get his ‘A’ game on. Little did he know he would end up saving CH with a three pointer after the final punches were thrown at each other in the 55th and 59th minutes!
Sudam Sooriyaarachchi ran the perfect supporting line for the CH hooker, Prasath Madhusanka who found himself in an unusual position flirting with the touchline from 15 meters away. Fortunately for him, Sooriyaarachchi came to the rescue and scored a blinder. For Navy it was Chathura Senavirathna who thought he put his team back in the game after he scored a stunning try bumping off CH newest recruit, Adam Gauder off his way and diving over the whitewash. Skipper Weerasinghe had the opportunity to be Navy’s hero– but he missed an easy penalty letting Maduwantha steal the cape in the 69th minute, when the young full-back made no mistake kicking CH to a hard fought victory from 50 meters away.
FT: CH won 31(4T 4C 1P) – 28 NSC (4T 4C)
- Player of the Match: Niwanka Prasad (CH)
Score Breakdown CH
Tries: Anuradha Heath, Niwanka Prasad, Sudam Sooriyaarachchi, Samuel Maduwantha
Conversions: Samuel Maduwantha 4
Penalties: Samuel Maduwantha
Bookings: Sajith SarangaScore Breakdown NSC
Tries: Kasun De Silva, Buddhima Piyarathna, Thanuja Malimbada, Chathura Senavirathne
Conversions: Thilina Weerasinghe 4
