CH & FC got off the mark in the ‘Mastercard’ Inter-Club Rugby League 2024/25 by defeating a fighting Police SC outfit (5T, 4C, 2P) 39 – 27 (3T, 3C, 2P) at Police Park to kick off week 2 of the tournament.
Both teams were win-less in week 1 as Police SC’s game against Army ended result-less while Air Force damaged CH & FC’s start with a bruising defeat and both teams were eager to get their first points of the tournament.
>>Air Force Soars to Victory, Outclassing CH in Club Rugby League Opener<<
The visitors got off to a good start through Devinda Rathnayake as the flanker was the first to pounce on a penalty, taking a quick tap to go over for the opener.
Former Police three-quarter, Janith Chandimal punted over the conversion to add the extras. (Pol 00-07 CH)
Police struck back straight away as CH made a hash of their clearance. This lead Heshan Silva badging his way over to score the hosts first try of the game in the 15th minute as Police drew level following Shane Hoopwood’s conversion. (Pol 07-07 CH)
Two minutes later CH & FC regained the lead off the boot of Janith Chandimal as the fullback made no mistake as Police were penalized at the breakdown.
Police SC regained the lead past the half hour mark as Vihanga Pivithuru made a scintillating break down the far touch line.
His break was finished off by Ramitha Himash as Police winger was at hand to collect the pop off the floor to dive over.
Hoopwood added the extras as Police were 4-points to the good. (Pol 14-10 CH)
With half time in the horizon, CH & FC scored on the brink to go into lemons in the lead.
Nirosh Perera ran onto a short pass from Maliksha Perera as the halfback committed a couple of defenders to pave the way for Nirosh as they went into half time following Janith Chandimal’s conversion.
Half Time: Police Sports Club 14 (2T 2C) trail CH & FC 17 (2T 2C 1P)
Police drew level at the start of the second half through Prince Chamara as he knocked over an comfortable penalty to make it 17-all.
CH cancelled out the penalty off the boot of Janith Chandimal as he knocked over the penalty from the tee to regain the 3-point slender lead. (Pol 17-20 CH)
Prince Chamara punted over his second penalty to make it 20-all as the game was tied once again. (Pol 20-20 CH)
Police Skipper Mohan Wimalarathne was sent to the bin for repeated infringements as this opened the door for CH & FC.
CH scored straight away off a rolling-maul as Nirosh dotted down for his second of the day putting the visitors in the driving seat.
Janith failed off the tee as Police trailed by just 5-points. (Pol 20-27 CH)
CH cemented their lead further as Dinesh De Silva grubbed through the heart of the Police defence, leaving them run in all directions, searching for bodies to stop the visitors.
Hoopwood conceded a naïve penalty as Maliksha Perera took the quick tap and dived over to put daylight between the two sides. Janith Chanmida added the extras from out wide as the visitors made Police pay for going down to 14-men. (Pol 20-32 CH)
Police were awarded a penalty try as the CH defenders were caught out after Janindu Dilshan was sent to the bin for a late charge. (Pol 27-32 CH)
After a bit of confusion, Police pushed hard for a try to win the game, but returning Janindu Dilshan picked off a wobbly pass to swan dive under the post to add the cherry on top of the icing for CH as they secured their first win of the season after Chandimal added the extras.
Full Time: Police Sports Club 27 (3T 3C 2P) lost to CH & FC 39 (5T 4C 2P)
ThePapare Player of the Match: Maliksha Perera (CH & FC)
Points Breakdown:
Police: Heshan Silva 1T, Ramitha Himash 1T, Shane Hoopwood 2C, Prince Chamara 2P, Penalty Try
CH & FC: Devinda Rathnayake 1T, Nirosh Perera 2T, Maliksha Perera 1T, Janindu Dilshan 1T, Janith Chandimal 4C, 2P
 39 - 27 (3T, 3C, 2P) at Police Park to kick off week 2 of the tournament.){kind=link}