A strong second-half showing by the lads from Longdon Place blew away bottom-placed Air Force Sports Club 53-15 as the Reds consolidated second sport on the Dialog Rugby League table.
The home team made two enforced changes as captain Omalka Gunaratne and Sharo Fernando missed out due to suspension while Kalindu Nandila made the run-on XV in place of Chanaka Chandimal.
Meanwhile, the visitors made a whole host of changes, ten (10) in all as sevens forwards and three backs missed out as Gayantha Iddamalgoda was moved from five-eighth to fullback as Nuwan Perera also failed to make the cut.
Murshid Zubair and Gayantha Iddamalgoda traded penalties as the first ten minutes of the game was tightly contested after the home side kicked off proceedings. (CR 03-03 AF)
Flank forward Wajid Fawmy scored the opening try of the game for the home team as the Reds assumed control of proceedings.
Kalindu Nandila soon doubled the try tally as the first receiver found himself at the end of a well-placed box kick from Rahul De Silva.
Murshid Zubair failed to add the extras from the first try however, they made no mistake with the second as CR took a 12-point lead. (CR 15-03 AF)
Air Force fought their way back after being bullied in the first 20-minutes. The pressure from the visitors yielded points as captain Renuka Medagedara crossed the white-wash as Air Force managed to get a foothold in the game.
Iddamalgoda added the extras from beside the uprights as the deficit was reduced to 5-points with 10-minutes remaining the half. (CR 15-10 AF)
The Airman struck once again as Mithila Perera was sent to the bin. The visiting forwards made their presence felt as Dinesh Weerarathne found himself diving.
Iddamalgoda failed uncharacteristically as the score leveled as CR & FC lost momentum in the first half. (CR 15-15 AF)
Lanky forward Anjula Hettiarachchi got himself sent to the bin for a senseless piece of play, leaving the door open for the home team to strike back.
Strike back they did with a try from Kevin Dixon as the fullback found himself at the end of an early ball from Zubair to dive over to take the host into the break with a narrow lead after the conversion went astray from Riza Rafaideen.
Half Time: CR & FC 20 (3T 1C 1P) lead Air Force 15 (2T 1C 1P)
The second half was completely dominated by the home team as the Reds scored 33 unanswered points, dismantling and demoralizing the bottom-placed Air Force outfit.
Former Airman, Jero Dananjaya was the first to get on the board with a try in the first minute of play as CR upped the tempo of play, leaving Air Force in the dust.
Zubair added the extras as the home team was getting back in the groove. (CR 27-15 AF)
Former Royalists Janidu Dilshan and Supun Warnakulasooriya were the next to get on the scoresheet as the 5th and 6th tries of the game put the game out of the reach of the visitors.
First, Dilshan scored after some brilliant work from Player of the Match Dinuk Amarasinghe and Kevin Dixon as the two backs drew their opponents and set the winger off in the corner. Moments later Warnakulasooriya found himself at the tail of a rumbling maul to crash over to put the game to bed.
Riza Rafaideen failed with the first, piercing the uprights with the second to take the hosts into a 24-point lead. (CR 39-15 AF)
Amitha Silva and Jason Karunarathne both were sent to the bin as things went from bad to worse for the visitors.
The home team capitalized on the advantage moments after Kevin Dixon dropped cold, a looping pass from Riza Mubarak with the try line beckoning.
Harith Bandara was the first to score following the error as he snipped from close range. Moments later Janidu Dilshan playing on the wing, showed the viewers his finishing capabilities as the youngster rounded off a first phase move, running around his opposite number, covering 60-meters to score, rounding off a sizable victory for the host.
Riza Mubarak made no mistakes converting Bandara’s and Dilshan’s tries as Air Forces’ woes continued with their 9th defeat of the season.
Full Time: CR & FC 53 (8T 5C 1P) beat Air Force 15 (2T 1C 1P)
Dialog Viu Player of the Match: Dinuk Amarasinghe (CR & FC)
Points Breakdown:
CR & FC: Wajid Fawmi 1T, Kalindu Nandila 1T, Kevin Dixon 1T, Jero Dananjaya 1T, Janidu Dilshan 2T, Supun Warnakulasooriya 1T, Harith Bandara 1T, Murshid Zubair 2C 1P, Riza Rafaideen 1C, Riza Mubarak 2C
Caution: Mithila Perera (Yellow Card)
Air Force: Renuka Medagedara 1T, Dinesh Weerarathne 1T, Gayantha Iddamalgoda 1C 1P
Cautions: Anjula Hettiarachchi (Yellow Card), Amitha Silva (Yellow Card), Jason Karunarathne (Yellow Card)
