CH & FC delivered a commanding 59-16 victory over a struggling Navy Sports Club, kicking off the Plate segment of the Mastercard Inter-Club ‘A’ Division Rugby League 2024/25 with a dominant performance at Navy Grounds, Welisara.
The Plate segment of the second round kicked off with a rematch of last week’s game, as this time Navy hosted CH & FC, with Thilina Weerasinghe getting proceedings underway. The home side struck first in the fourth minute, earning a penalty from a breakdown, which Weerasinghe comfortably slotted over to open the scoring. (Navy 03-00 CH)
Navy continued to dominate, with playmaker Chirantha Kaluarachchi slicing through the CH defense to bring play near the 10-meter line. Quick support from his backs kept the attack alive, and scrum-half Koojana Kulathunga’s sharp pass sent hooker Pradeep Ranaweera over for the opening try. (Navy 08-00 CH)
The Sailors extended their lead at the half-hour mark as Weerasinghe added another penalty, capitalising on CH’s repeated breakdown infringements. (Navy 11-00 CH)
CH responded with two quick tries before Half Time. First, scrum-half Harsha Maduranga took a quick tap from five meters out, charging forward before Charith Silva powered over for their opening try, which Kavindu Yasas converted. Moments later, Dinesh de Silva’s booming 50-22 kick gave CH a prime attacking platform. The backs swiftly moved the ball from right to left, setting up Skipper Janindu Dilshan to dive over in the corner, reclaiming the lead for the visitors.
Half Time: Navy SC 11 (1T,2P) – CH & FC 12 (2T,1C)
The visitors picked up right where they left off, scoring early in the second half. Opting for another quick tap, CH’s forwards drove forward with several pick-and-go phases before scrum-half Harsha Maduranga shifted play wide. Playmaker Dinesh De Silva delivered a pinpoint long pass to Skipper Janindu Dilshan, who powered over for his second try. (Navy 11-17 CH)
CH struck again immediately, as slick passing from the backs created space for Devinda Ratnayake to sprint 30 meters and score under the posts. Janith Chandimal added the conversion. A brief altercation followed, resulting in both teams being reduced to 13 men, with Koojana Kulathunga and Thilina Weerasinghe being sent to the bin for Navy, while Hansitha Semal and Kavindu Yasas received yellow cards for CH. (Navy 11-24 CH)
The onslaught from CH continued, with Dinesh De Silva orchestrating another try, this time setting up Thanuja Malimbada for an easy finish. Moments later, CH struck again from their own 22, as speedster Pasindu Bandara sold a dummy and sliced through the Navy defense. Linking up with Chandimal in a perfectly executed one-two, Bandara sprinted over to dot down under the posts. Chandimal made no mistake with either conversion. (Navy 11-38 CH)
Brimming with confidence, the visitors added another when Ravindu Anjula dazzled with a brilliant step to outfox the defense and cross the line after Harsha Maduranga set up the play with a well-timed pass. Chandimal made no mistake with the conversion. (Navy 11-45 CH)
Navy finally found some attacking rhythm, as their forwards worked hard in close quarters before the ball was sent wide. Isuru Kongahawatta’s precise long pass found Amith Madushanka, who sliced through the CH defense with ease to score a well-deserved try. (Navy 16-45 CH)
CH had the final say, sealing the game with two late tries. In a moment of individual brilliance, Skipper Janindu Dilshan surprised everyone by taking a quick tap inside his own five-meter line, breaking through the defense before linking up with his backs. The move ended with replacement scrum-half Thanuja Dilshan finishing off a length-of-the-field try. Moments later, he was on the scoresheet again, selling a clever dummy after a patient build-up by the forwards to cross for the final try of the game. Chandimal converted both, as CH began the second round on a high.
Full Time: Navy SC 16 (2T, 2P) – CH & FC 59 (9T, 7C)
- Player of the Match: Dinesh De Silva (CH & FC)
Points Breakdown
Navy SC 16
Pradeep Ranaweera 1T, Amith Madushanka 1T, Thilina Weerasinghe 2P
CH & FC 59
Charith Silva 1T, Janindu Dilshan 2T, Thanuja Malimbada 1T, Pasindu Bandara 1T, Ravindu Anjula 1T, Thanuja Dilshan 2T, Devinda Ratnayake 1T, Kavindu Yasas 1C, Janith Chandimal 6C
