CR & FC managed to secure a convincing victory against a wounded Air force SC team in their 3rd week encounter of the 2019/20 Dialog Rugby League. After leading 28 points to 10 at half time, CR went on to clinch the game with a bonus point as the scores read 35 – 17 at full time in Ratmalana.
Air Force started the game brilliantly but the red shirts didn’t settle down to the game as they struggled to cope up with the pressure from the home side. Big Fijian James Tuteovuya crashed over for the opening try for Airmen. (AIR FORCE 05 – 00 CR)
CR bounced back with their forwards taking control at the scrum, the power of their ball-carriers repeatedly punching dents in the Air Force defense as the nippy Scrum half Harith Bandara sneaked through a slightest gap as to score as Riza Mubarak added
The try from CR sparked a response from the Airmen with Nuwan Perera taking the lead back with a superlative try after the Winger was found by a wonderful cross field kick off Ishara Madushan. James Tuteovuya couldn’t add the extras as his kick went astray from the uprights. (AIR FORCE 10 – 07 CR)
Dialog Rugby League to commence in November
The red shirts slowly gathered momentum as they extended their lead further when Rehan Weerakoon cantered across the whitewash as Mubarak made no mistake from the tee.
Straight from the restart Skipper Omalka Gunarathne dealt the killer blow. The CR number 8 sprung through the hole created in the Air Force defense earned more the 40 meters to his team and Harith Bandara had presence of mind to put box kick as the player maker Janidu Dilshan managed to touch down for the third try as the pendulum swung towards the Longdon place team. (AIR FORCE 10 – 21 CR)
Skipper Omalka Gunarathne was rewarded for his good work as he bulldoze his way through the Air Force defense like a runaway dumper-truck for the bonus point try of the game as the red shirts took a big lead to the half time break.
Half Time – AIR FORCE SC AIR FORCE SC 10 (2T) – CR & FC 28 (4T,4C)
A stern half time talk made the difference for the hosts as they came out hitting the ground running but they couldn’t convert all territory and possession to points as the CR defense held firm on their own line despite repeated Air Force charges.
After all the defending work CR took maximum out of the firstattacking move when Gemunu Chethiya beat three on-rushing defenders to dive over in the corner, following some slick build up play. Riza Mubarak kept his 100% kicking success in tact as he conversion pierced the posts from the touch line. (AIR FORCE 10 – 35 CR)
Airmen Finally managed to turn the momentum into points as their forwards patiently built through the phases and eventually got their score when the big Fijian Tuteovuya dived over from two meters out as Gayantha Iddamalgoda quickly landed the conversion.
The last quarter of the game was dull as both sides made a succession of handling errors which slowed the game down as Airmen finished game with disappointment as they couldn’tcapitalize on the opportunities that were afforded to them by CR which couldn’t have change outcome of the game but the red shirts deservingly won the game as stayed unbeaten.
Full Time – AIR FORCE SC 17 (3T,1C) – CR & FC 35 (5T,5C)
- Dialog Viu Player of the Match – Omalka Gunarathne (CR & FC)
- Match Referee – Kalum Sandaruwan
Breakdown
AIR FORCE SC: Tries from Nuwan Perera, James Tuteovuya (2) conversion by Gayantha Iddamalgoda
CR & FC: Tries from Harith Bandara, Janidu Dilshan, Rehan Weerakoon, Omalka Gunarathne, Gemunu Chethiya and conversion (5) by Riza Mubarak
