The first week of the Nippon Club Rugby League 2022/2023 kicked off last Friday (9th December) in Colombo. Defending Champions Kandy SC, CR&FC, Air Force SC and Navy SC registered wins during the weekend.
CR & FC win a thriller against Havies
Full Time: CR & FC 23 – 21 Havelocks SC
CR & FC opened their season with a nail-biting win over last year’s runners-up Havelocks SC at the Havelocks Sports Club Grounds yesterday.
The two giants in Club Rugby produced an all-time classic as the game went right down to the wire. Hosts Havelocks would have fancied their chances when they were leading by the 80th minute, but a stoppage-time converted try from former Park Boy Lasindu Karunathilake clinched the win for the boys from Longdon Place.
Along with Karunathilake, Chathura Senevirathne scored tries for CR. Randitha Warnapura, Imanga Ariyapala, and Sandesh Jayawickrama crossed the whitewash for Havies.
Navy wins the curtain raiser against the Police SC
Full Time : Navy SC 15 – 07 Police SC
Navy SC managed to win the opening game of the season against Police SC by 15 points to 7 at Welisara on Friday.
The Cops opened the scores in the first half with a try from Mohan Wimalarathne. Apart from the solitary try, Police failed to make an impact in the game as the Sailors crossed over twice to secure the win. The tries were scored by Rasith Silva and Nirosh Perera.
Air Force stun CH & FC with a late surge
Full time : Air Force SC 30 – 22 CH & FC
Air Force SC staged a strong comeback in the second half to snatch a win against CH&FC in Ratmalana.
The Gymkhana Club fielded a strong side along with Rajapaksha brothers, Yoshitha and Rohitha. Yoshitha scored two tries while Rohitha bisected the uprights on several occasions. Janidu Dilshan scored the third try for CH while Rohitha added another penalty to make it 22-6 before the hour mark.
Beyond that point, Ishara Madushan scored the first try for the hosts. Then CH&FC went down to 14 after Janidu Dilshan was shown red. It paved the way for Air Force to score two tries through Prasanna Madushanka and Nuwan Perera to steal the win.
Defending Champions Kandy thump Army in Nittawala
Full time: Kandy SC 46 – 08 Army SC
Defending Champions Kandy SC registered a resounding win over Army SC at Nittawala. The Kandy boys added 8 tries in the game through Oshan Perera (2), Kavindu Perera, Sanushka Abeywickrama, Dinal Ekanayake, Malitha Wijesundara, Lakshitha Ranaweera, and Chathurya Soyza. For Army, National Sevens Cap Sudaraka Dikkumbura added a solitary try.
Nippon Club Rugby League 2022/2023 – Week 2
- CH & FC v Navy SC at Race Course on 16th Friday
CH & FC would be aiming for a comeback win after their Week 1 upset while Navy SC come into the game after an easy win over Police. The Gymkhana Club will be favorites to take the win but Sailors are not a team to relax on.
- Army SC v Police SC at Panagoda on 16th Friday
Both teams are coming into the second week with defeats in the first week. Army SC had no answer to the onslaught against Kandy while Police failed to secure a single try in the first game against the sailors. Police will look to unleash their backline while Army will look up to their experienced forwards.
- CR & FC v Kandy SC at Longdon Place on 17th Saturday
By far the biggest clash of the second week. Both teams are coming into this big game with wins behind their backs. CR&FC will be hoping to create the first upset of the season while the defending Champions will be determined to keep their record clean.
- Havelocks SC v Air Force SC at Rathmalana on 17th Saturday
Air Force will be brimming with confidence after their win over CH & FC in the first week while wounded Havelocks SC will come in search of their first win of the new season.
 in Colombo. Defending Champions Kandy SC, CR&FC, Air Force SC and Navy SC registered wins during the weekend.){kind=link}