The prestigious traditional game for the Mattyhsz trophy, between the two most outstanding rugby playing clubs in Sri Lanka, CR & FC and Havelock SC clashed at Longdon place on the 13th of January in the week 06 action of Nippon Paint Rugby League 2024.
First Capital Equities Managing Director Jaliya Wijeratne was the event’s chief guest. Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy and Hanzil Samad, two renowned members of the Sri Lankan rugby team who finished behind Japan in the Rugby Asiad in 1974, were the guests of honor.
The CR & FC clinched the win of the match by beating Havelock SC by 25 – 10 points, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the season.
Udara Lakshan opened the scorecard in the 8th minute by scoring the first try for Havelock SC and it was successfully converted by Samuel Maduwantha.
(CRFC 00 – 07 HSC)
After 30 minutes into the game, Thenuka Nanayakkara got the opportunity to put the Reds over the line to get their first points of the game by putting the penalty kick through as Haves was penalized.
(CRFC 03-07 HSC)
After a catastrophic injury to a Havelock SC player on the ground, the game had to be stopped at the 36-minute mark. This was a rather terrible moment for the Pink Rugby. Additionally, Samuel Maduwantha chose to attempt a penalty kick in the same minute, but he was unsuccessful in expanding the lead of the game from that.
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Both teams really played well on the first half, but Havelock was slightly on the top of CR. Unforced errors of the Reds didn’t let them get into their usual momentum of this season’s at the match. Visitors were in the lead as going into the half time.
(CRFC 03 – 07 HSC)
Minutes on to the second half, dashing Gamunu Chethiya the vice-captain of the team scored a brilliant try from the right corner for the CR to take the lead over Havelock by just one point
(CRFC 08-07 HSC)
Yet again the Pink Club was managed to get into the lead from the successful penalty kick to goal by Janith Chandimal at the 54th minute of the game.
(CRFC 08-10 HSC)
In the 58th minute a controversial try was scored by the center of CR & FC, Manilka Ruberu to get CR to the lead once again in the game. Chathura Senevirathne had the chance to put his first points of season from the followed up conversion, but unfortunately it didn’t go as the plan.
(CRFC 13 – 10 HSC)
As things got intense in the last bit of the game, the offside placement of Havies players gave the opportunity to CR, to score their 3rd try of the game. But being held up over the try line cost the chance of them getting on the safer side at the match.
A massive chance was missed yet again by Chathura Senivirathna as he missed a scoring opportunity for his team in the 70th minute from a opted penalty kick. But just after 2 minutes from that missed opportunity, the replacement winger Kushan Tharindu was able to capitalize over the Havies to score the 3rd try of the reds from the far-left corner of the ground.
(CRFC 18 – 10 HSC)
Venura Kodagoda was managed to score the final try of the game by the help of the powerful driving maul of CR to get them over the fence in last play of the match followed by the only successful conversion of the match for CR in a comfortable win over Havelock.
(CRFC 25 – 10 HSC)
The stunning performance of Senura Perera led him to put his name under the Player of the Match title in the week 06 clash for CR & FC. It led CR to come up above Havies in a massive win of 25 – 10 points. Unbeaten CR will take on the unbeaten defending champion Kandy SC in a promising epic battle at the final round of group stage match, next week at Kandy.
Stay tuned for more Nippon Paint Rugby League 23/24 updates here on The Papare, the no.01 sports channel in Sri Lanka.
