Navy SC scored 7 tries past a sloppy CR team as Navy out played CR in every aspect of the game that was played yesterday (21st February) at Longdon place.
It was an uphill struggle for the home team (CR) as Navy began as the brighter team as they scored in the second minute of the game. A good strong scrum by Navy lead to the ball being worked down the line to Lee Keegel. He found a pass to the onrushing Nuwan Hettiarrachchi as he went on to score for the early try for Navy. Nuwan Hettiarrachchi converted his own try to extend the score to 7 nil in favour of the visiting team. (CR 00-07 Navy)
CR had the chance to cut the lead down to 4 points but Lee Keegel was caught infringing at the break down. Kanchana Ramanayake stepped up but failed to add the points on the board as the score line remained the same. (CR 00-07 Navy)
CR was made to pay for their early mistakes as Chanaka Chandimal scored the second try for Navy. The try was created by Srinath Sooriyabandara as he recognised that there was no one at home for CR and stabbed a well weighted kick only to find Chanaka Chandimal collecting and crashing over to score for Navy. Nuwan Hettiarrachchi failed to add the extras. (CR 00-12 Navy)
Navy extended their score further as the CR defensive line was penalized for being offside. Nuwan Hettiarrachchi stepped up and slotted over from right in front to extend the lead. (CR 00-15 Navy)
Navy’s next try was set up by Dulanjana Wijesinghe as he made a lung burst through the heart of the CR defence bumping off three defenders in the process and passed the ball to Chanaka Chandimal as Chanaka dived over in the far corner for his second of the game. Nuwan Hettiarrachchi failed to convert the try. (CR 00-20 Navy)
Try no.4 of the game came as Eramasi avari returned the resulting the kickoff as he ran through the heart of the CR defence. Three phases later he found himself with the ball as he ran through the CR defence again to go under the post for Navy. Nuwan Hettiarrachchi successfully converted the try. (CR 00-27 Navy)
CR registered their first score of the game as Sasanka Ariyarathne scored in the far corner off a well constructed rolling maul. Kanchana Ramanayake failed to convert the try for CR. (CR 05-27)
CR ended the half as they slotted over a penalty through the boot of Kanchana Ramanayake as the Navy line was penalized for being offside right in front of the uprights. (CR 08-27 Navy)
Half Time: CR 08 (1T, 1P) vs Navy 27 (4T, 2C, 1P)
The second half of the game was a more competitive affair rather than a one sided game.
The first score of the second half came for Navy SC as they worked their magic of a scrum to score. No.8 Sajith Saranga broke and off loaded the ball to Scrum Half Srinath Sooriyabandara, he then threw a magical backhand flick to find Centre naikasao as he stepped and crashed over to score for Navy. Nuwan Hettiarrachchi failed to add the extras. (CR 08-32 Navy)
CR scored their next try from a similar move to their first try as they created a good rolling maul as the same man Sasanka Ariyarathne crashed over at the back of the maul to score his second and his team’s second try. Kanchana Ramanayake converted the try successfully. (CR 15-32 Navy)
The 3rd try for CR came as the CR forwards crashed the ball with a whole host of pick and go’s and CR No.8 Arun Kumar found himself crashing over the white wash. Kanchana Ramanayake failed to add the extras. (CR 20-32 Navy)
The two tries from CR did not hurt Navy as they scored soon after as Amila Bandara knocked on the ball straight into the arms of Lee Keegel, who saw space at the back of the CR defence and kicked the ball in to the space. Srinath Sooriyabandara read the situation well and collected the ball as he strolled over to score for Navy. Nuwan Hettiarrachchi failed to add the extras. (CR 20-37 Navy)
Navy rounded off a good performance as Captain Sajith Sarnaga picked off the back of a scrum and crashed over the white which was to end the game. Replacement Fullback Thilina Weerasignhe converted the try successfully. (CR 20-44 Navy)
Full time : CR & FC 20 (3T 1C 1P) – Navy SC 44 (7T 3C 1P)
