CH & FC managed to score six tries in their Dialog Rugby League 2017/2018 game against Air Force SC in a high scoring encounter which was played at Ratmalana earlier today. At the final whistle the score stood at 43 points 31.
Game kicked off under hot and humid conditions and CH was boosted with the inclusion of Lee Keegal to line up after serving a one match ban. Airmen dominated the early exchanges but couldn’t get points on the board. Samuel Maduwantha opted for a 55 meter penalty to open the scoring but he was unsuccessful. Airmen opted to the same plan and was successful in it when Charith Senevirathne bisected the uprights from a 50 meter penalty kick .Airmen increased their lead after 5 minutes as Senevirathne slotted an easy penalty in front of the sticks. (Air Force 06 – 00 CH & FC)
Airmen had the upper hand of the game as CH gifted possession as they continued to make handling errors in the breakdown. Airmen grab the opportunity when CH lost the ball in the breakdown and kicked the ball into open space as CH committed all the players to the attacking move. Jehan Seelagama collected the kick while he made few yards before offloading the ball to his support player Senevirathne as he went over to score the first try of the game. Senevirathne couldn’t convert his own try. (Air Force 11 – 00 CH & FC)
CH hit back twice in quick succession first with Avishka Lee as he twisted and turned around the Air Force defender and found space to his left and went over to reduce the deficit. After the first try CH attacked the Airmen using their forwards for few phases and they opted to spreading the ball wide as Yoshitha Rajapaksa found an overlap and scored. Maduwantha was spot on with the two kicks. (Air Force 11 – 14 CH & FC)
Airmen equalized the score with another penalty as Senevirathne added the points from a perfect kick. In the dying minutes of the first half, CH managed to score another try through Sajith Saranga as Airmen were caught napping in their defence and Saranga powered himself over the Air Force defence. Maduwantha was unable to increase the lead with his kick. (Air Force 14 – 19 CH & FC)
Half Time – Air Force 14 (1T, 3P) – 19 (3T, 2C) CH & FC
Maduwantha kick started the second half and he was first to score from a penalty as he bisected the uprights with ease. Airmen bounced back quickly as the forwards carried the ball in few phases before Gayantha Iddamalgoda changed direction of the attack and found more space in corner for Padamasanka Weerasinghe to score an important try. Senevirathne added the extras from a difficult angle. (Air Force 21- 22 CH & FC)
The game was played at good tempo as both team played expansive rugby. CH made bold decisions to kick for touch from a kickable penalty in front of the sticks and the decision paid off when the CH pack formed a rolling maul and Yoshitha Rajapaksa scored from the back of the maul to increase the lead. Maduwantha added the important extra points. Few phases later Rohitha Rajapaksa deliberately knocked on the ball and was shown the marching orders for a ten minute break in the naughty chair. Airmen opted to kick for points and Senevirathne added the points. (Air Force 24- 29 CH & FC)
CH managed to score their fifth try of the game through their winger Hasan Maduranga as he found space in the right corner to score. Maduwantha was spot on with his kick. (Air Force 24 – 36 CH & FC)
Airmen hit back after continuous attacking moves as they finally found the white wash through Pabasara Hewage .Senevirathne added extra points but CH managed to score again through Avantha Lee as the Airmen were down to fourteen when Nilantha Jayaweera was yellow carded for a high tackle. Maduwantha had a great day with his boot as the conversion was good. (Air Force 31 – 43CH & FC)
In the dying stages of the game two yellow cards were shown to Udara Jayapala and Srinath Wimalaweera. CH managed to defend well in the last few minutes with thirteen men on the park as the Airmen tried their best to score another try but a knock on from the Airmen meant the game ended giving the Colombo 07 club their second victory this season
Full Time – Air Force 31 (3T, 2C, 4P) – 43 (6T, 5C, 1P) CH & FC
- Match Referee: Akeel Jamaldeen
- ThePapare.com Player of the Match: Yoshitha Rajapaksa (CH & FC)
CH & FC coach Tavita Tulagese expressed his thoughts about the game “It was a pretty average performance as we didn’t stick to our plan in the first half we always wanted go on the outside channels but Air force defence was up to the mark and if we had stuck to our plan and played a bit more direct in the first and second phases we could have scored more and our defence let Air Force score three tries that was bit too much and I’m happier about the place we are this season, could have been better but overall we are getting better that’s the main thing ”
The Score Breakdown
Air Force SC 31 (14) 3T, 2C, 4P
Tries: Charith Senevirathne, Padamasanka Weerasinghe & Pabasara Hewage
Conversions: Charith Senevirathne (2)
Penalties: Charith Senevirathne (4)
Bookings (yellow cards): Nilantha JayaweeraCH & FC 43 (19) 6T, 5C, 1P
Tries: Yoshitha Rajapaksa (2), Avishka Lee, Sajith Saranga, Hasan Maduranga & Avantha Lee
Conversions: Samuel Maduwantha (5)
Penalties: Samuel Maduwantha
Booking (yellow cards): Rohitha Rajapaksa Udara Jayapala & Srinath Wimalaweera
