Tharinda Ratwatta inspired CR & FC crashed the Centenary party as they beat a second string Havelocks Sports club team last evening.
The game kicked off to the whistle of referee Carder on a clear night at Havelocks Sport club ground. The occasion was poignant, the celebration of a 100 years of Havelock Sports Club with the Air Force band in attendance.
CR & FC had named a pleasing outfit for the game although Havelocks SC could only muster a young team as their senior player were preparing to take wing that night to China on national duty.
CR & FC began the game piling pressure on the young Havelock team but neither team managed to breach each other’s defense in the first 15 minutes of the game. First points of the game were scored by CR & FC as they managed to run through the heart of the Havelocks back line and score. A good line out from CR earned them clear ball, two passes later Bhanuka Peiris fended of old school mate Rizwan Meedin to go clear through the heart of Havelocks defense and score under the post for CR. Fullback Prince Chamara converted from in front to add the extras for CR. (Havis 00-07 CR)
Havelocks SC struck right back from the kick off as Rehan Thiyagaraja assisted Captain Sadun Hearth to go over in the corner to score for Havelocks SC. Rehan Thiyagaraja received the ball from a ruck as he threw a brilliant flat pass as Sadun Hearth scored in the far corner for Havelocks SC. Fullback Kevin Dixon failed to add the extras. (Havis 05-07 CR)
Before the game was drawing to a close in the first half, CR fly-half Tharinda Ratwatta added his touch on the game as he worked his magic. His pin-point accurate cross kick was perfect bounce for Winger Mekalanka as he picked the pocket of Kevin Dixon to go under the post for CR. Prince Chamara converted the try from in front as the first half ended. (Havis 05-14 CR)
Half Time: Havelocks 05 (1T) vs CR & FC 14 (2T, 2C)
Kevin Dixon kicked off the second half with hope of reviving the game for Havelocks SC. CR never displayed any signs of letting the game slip away as they continued from where they left off in the first half. Havelocks were the first side to register points in the second half as they slotted home a penalty from right in front of the boot of replacement flyhalf Nipuna Devinda. (Havis 08-14 CR)
The pattern of the game was similar to the first half. Ratwatte added his touch again as he kicked yet another accurate cross-kick this time in the Havelocks 22 as Shashan Mohamad collected and dotted down in the corner to seal the game in favor of CR & FC. Ratwatta kicked a good kick from the touch line to convert the try. (Havis 08-21 CR)
Rehan Thiyagaraja tried his best to inspire the Havelock SC team as he made a dazzling break down the centre of the CR defense but that was not enough to revive Havelocks SC. CR continued their dominance on the game as they applied pressure on the Havelock’s defense. Drawing a penalty CR took a quick tap and threw the ball down the line to find Devinda down in the wing as he dumped off the would be tackler to go over in the far corner. Tharinda missed the conversion as the game drew to a close and handed Havelocks defeat in the centenary celebration game.
Tharind Ratwatta was deservedly named man of the match for his brilliant performance with ball in hand and for his immaculate kicking game.
Full Time: Havelock SC 08 (1T, 1P) lost to CR & FC 26 (4T, 3C)
