CR & FC managed to hang on to their slender halftime lead, defeating CH & FC 28 (4T 1 2P) – 23 (2T 4C 3P) in their Darby game played at Longdon Place in the Nippon Paints Club Rugby League 2023/24.
The home team made 4 changes, while visitors CH made 3 changes going into a game with age-old rivalry.
On a gloomy day at Longdon Place, the home team kicked off proceedings with hopes of reaching the table’s summit at the end of the day.
It took the hosts 10 minutes to find their feet and score their first points as Thenuka Nanayakkara slotted home a penalty from close range. CH themselves took twice as much time, taking them 20 minutes to score their first points, off the boot of Hirusha Nethmina, drawing the game level. (CR 03-03 CH)
CR settled well into the game and was the beneficiary to score the first try of the game courtesy of the highest try scorer at the end of 3 weeks — Lasindu Karunathilake. He added to his tally, dotting down his team’s first of the game finishing off a good few phases of play. Thenuka Nanayakkara failed with the extras.
>>Photos – CR & FC vs CH & FC | Nippon Paint Rugby League 2023/24 – Week 4<<
Charith Silva saw yellow for CH as they were reduced to a man, handing CR a numerical advantage. The home team capitalised, scoring their second try of the game to extend their lead further through Randy Silva.
The Centre crashed over to add the gloss on a move begun by Zubair Doray. Yasas Kavindu failed with the extras this time as kickers changed, but the outcome remained the same. (CR 13-03 CH)
CH received a penalty after the hooter and surprisingly elected to go for touch instead of the easy 3-points option. This decision proved to be the correct decision as hooker Prasanth Madusanka found himself at the tail of the maul, diving over the whitewash to score a crucial try moments before lemons. This try was converted as the lead was cut to 3-points going into the break.
Half time: CR & FC 13 (2T 1P) lead CH & FC 10 (1T 1C 1P)
Rohitha Rajapakse was subbed off following a try-saving tackle as Dinesh De Silva came off the bench to boost the visitor’s second-half show soon after Manelka Ruberu scored minutes into the second half.
De Silva worked his magic from just outside the 22m line, beating 3 would-be tacklers and putting on a lovely inside step to score the visitors’ second of the evening. Nethmina added the extras, making it a single-point game 50 minutes into proceedings. (CR 18-17 CH)
Dushmantha Priyadarshana had the better of his opponents in the scrum and open play. However, he saw yellow for continuously scrummaging illegally, paving the way for CR to extend their lead.
>>Kandy continue to lead as CR trail at the Christmas break<<
This crucial yellow card meant CR managed a try of their own through Black Knight Player of the Match, Amith Gunasinghe, as he dived over from the tail of a CR maul.
Thenuka Nanayakkara added the extras on the hour mark to take CR 8 points ahead of the visitors. (CR 25-17 CH)
Hirusha Nethmina slotted over twice, as Nanayakkara added a single penalty between the pair of CH penalties, as the visitors went into the final phase of play with a line out in their opponent’s red zone.
Pulasthi Dassanayake dummied at the line out throw, handing CR a technical short-arm penalty, and handing the game on a platter to the hosts.
Kavindu De Costa tapped and kicked the ball out of play to end the game, handing CR a bonus point win, taking them to the summit of the points table until Kandy faces Air Force tomorrow evening at Rathmalana.
Full time: CR & FC 28 (4T 1C 2P) beat CH & FC 23 (2T 2C 3P)
Black Knight Player of the Match: Amith Gunasinghe (CR Hooker)
Points Breakdown:
CR & FC: Lasindu Karunathilake 1T, Randy Silva 1T, Manelka Ruberu 1T, Amith Gunasinghe 1T, Thenuka Nanayakkara 1C, 2P
CH & FC: Prasanth Madusanka 1T, Dinesh De Silva 1T, Hirusha Nethmina 2C 3P
 – 23 (2T 4C 3P) in their Darby game played at Longdon Place in the Club Rugby League 2023/24.){kind=link}