Rizah Mubarak kicked CR & FC to a thrilling 22-21 win over Army SC in the Dialog Club Rugby League match worked out in Diyagama Mahinda Rajapakshe International Stadium this evening.
Both teams were facing each other after a few disappointing weeks and a win would have helped either team to secure the important fourth position in the league standings.
Army SC’s outside half Maika Ligaquqa started off the proceedings on a dry and hard surface. Army SC found the perfect opportunity to put points on the board as soon as the 2nd minute of the game when CR defenders were penalized for not rolling away in a ruck situation. Maika Liqaquqa missed the uprights to the dismay of Army supporters.
Both teams took time to get used to the speed of the game as players conceded crucial penalties at crucial breakdown points. Unstructured playing was on display on the first quarter of the game as neither side could put points on the board as the clock ticked over the 20 minute mark. CR & FC drew first blood through their reliable place kicker Riza Mubarak in the 22nd minute when he slanted a penalty kick as referee Taku Otsaki penalized the Army defense line offside. (CR 03 – Army 00)
Riza worked his magic once again when he intercepted a pass from their own 22’ meter territory and sprinted his way towards the touch line but Army defenders were quick to catch up and Riza’s presence of mind made him make a small punt which was chased down superbly by Ashan De Costa as the CR wing three quarter touched down to give CR & FC a commanding lead with only 30 minutes on the clock. Riza Mubarak added the extra points. (CR 10 – Army 00)
Army SC hit back immediately with a stunning try by number 08 Lalai Jalebula as he barged over for a superb team try initiated by Dilai Esava’s line break. Upali Wickramasinghe converted the try as Army finally found their feet. (CR 10 – Army 07)
Both teams were making unforced errors on the breakdowns which resulted in loss of possession and territory. Riza Mubarak extended his team’s lead to 6 points when he bisected the uprights from a spending 45 meter long penalty on the brink of the half time whistle.
Half Time : CR & FC 13 – Army SC 07
After the lemons, Mubarak restarted the game but Army came into the lead from the first move of the second half when their powerful Fijian wing three quarter Dilai Esava sprinted down the flank fending off lazy CR defenders and scored his first try of the match. Skipper Upali Wickramasinghe added the conversion to give his team a slight one point lead. (CR 13 – Army 14)
Army SC’s lead was short lived as Riza Mubarak booted off another penalty kick in the 45th minute of the game as CR & FC came back into the lead. (CR 16 – Army 14)
As the game heating up for a stunning and breath-taking end, both teams injected few new players from the bench to add more versatility to the game. Both teams displayed ferocious classic rugby on a hot and humid day in Diyagama.
With only 20 minutes left on the clock, both teams used the width of the ground perfectly to attack and counter attack. CR & FC failed to live up to their expectations in scrums and line outs as the hard working and tireless Army loose forwards got the better of the Longden place boys.
Army SC got a penalty kick well within Upali Wickramasinghe’s kicking range on the 65 minute mark but he missed the posts as scores remained the same.
Mr CR & FC Riza Mubarak slotted his 4th penalty kick for the evening with less than 10 minutes on the clock after Army SC lock forward Thirusha Adikaram was penalized for holding on the ball. (CR 19 – Army 14)
Temperament and character was tested in the dying stages of the game when both teams forced their opponents to make try saving tackles. Riza Mubarak took his team tally to 22 points and his individual points tally to 17 points in 76th minute when he bisected the uprights from an easy penalty kick. (CR 22 – Army 14)
Army SC were 8 points behind as but they came close but were yet so far when prop forward Rasika Abeynayake touched down in the last move of the game after a series of attacking pick and go phrases by Army forwards. As Upali Wickramasinghe converted the final try, referee Taku Otsaki blew the final whistle putting CR & FC into the 4th position of the league standings with only 1 week of excellent Dialog Club Rugby left for this season.
Full Time : CR & FC 22 – Army SC 21
ThePapare.com Man of the Match – Riza Mubarak
