The Dialog Rugby league is providing top notch competition with teams going head to head with some fighting rugby.
In Welisara today what was expected to be a walk in the park for the unstoppable Navy turned out to be a bit of a scare as a scintillating second half comeback from CR & FC was cut short by the final whistle as Navy managed hold on to the lead against a spirited CR & FC to win by 4 points.
Both teams entered the game with high expectations as they looked to keep their unbeaten run intact. Former CR & FC fullback Riza Mubarak kicked off the game from right to left, on a sunny evening in Welisara.
The first ten minutes of the game was dominated by Navy SC as they piled tons of pressure on the CR & FC defence. The dominance duly paid off as Navy full-back Riza kicked a 48 meter penalty to register the first points of the game. (Navy 03-00 CR)
CR & FC had the opportunity to kick their first points and level the game straight off the kick off as Navy SC was penalized at the break down. Centre Billy Ropiha failed to level the game as the kick fell short of the uprights.
Navy SC continued to pile pressure on CR & FC and hence CR & FC was forced to contest possession. The contest was illegal as CR infringed at the break down and Riza made his former club pay for it as he managed to successfully convert the 46 meter kick from right in front. (Navy 06-00 CR)
Twenty minutes in to the game Navy Winger Dinusha Fernando registered the first try. The try was set up by no.8 Fuapau Halafihi as he broke down the short side off a scrum and passed the ball to Dinusha Fernando, who stepped his way passing the on-rushing cover defence to go under the post. Riza Mubarak converted successfully. (Navy 13-00 CR)
CR & FC managed to collect their own restart and three phases into the play they were awarded a penalty as Navy SC players entered the break down from the side. CR outside Centre Kanchana Ramanayaka coolly slotted over to register first points for CR & FC. (Navy 13-03 CR)
Soon after registering first points CR was reduced to 14 men as Flanker Dilanka Perera was sin binned for holding back Navy scrum-half Suranga Pushpakumara. Riza took the opportunity and calmly slotted home from 26 meters to extend Navy SC’s lead. (Navy 16-03 CR)
CR & FC went into half time with the lead within reach as Centre Kanchana Ramanayaka successfully converted two penalties in the dying minutes of the first half. (Navy 16-09 CR)
CR & FC scrum-half Dilan Soysa played a pivotal role as he managed to stop Fijian flyer Setefano Cacaunivalu by making to scintillating tackle in first half.
Half Time: Navy SC 16 (1T, 1C, 3P) – CR & FC 09 (3P)
The second half got under way through the boot of CR captain Ashan De Costa as he kick off from right to left.
In the 46th minute of the game Navy SC scored their second try through Fijian flyer Setefano Cacaunivalu. Both teams grappling on the floor for possession and as a result of that the ball squirted out of the ruck. Sri Lankan 7’s star Srinath Sooriyabandara was the first to react as he picked the ball and gave a no-look pass to Sethe and he strolled home with no defence in sight to score under the post. Riza Mubarak converted successfully. (Navy 23-09 CR)
Srinath Sooriyabandara “Soori” and Riza Mubarak worked their magic around the park as Navy continued to terrorise the CR defence.
CR conceded a penalty with a player going off his feet at the break down and Riza kicked a good touch finder deep into the CR 22. From the resulting lineout Navy SC formed a bone crouching maul and replacement Prop forward Sathya Ranathunga crashed over the white to score Navy’s third try of the game. Riza Mubarak converted successfully. (Navy 30-09 CR)
Navy SC was reduced to 14 men as Hooker Achala Perera was sin binned for continued infringements at the break down. Soon after CR & FC made a vital change as they brought on replacement Centre Robbie Malneek.
Robbie Malneek made an immediate impact as he scored a scintillating individual try stepping his was passed 4 help-less Navy defenders to score beside the left upright. Kanchana Ramanayaka failed to convert the try. (Navy 30-14 CR)
CR & FC had the chance to cut the lead but full-back Rochana Hettiarahchi missed the opportunity to score as he was selfish and did not pass the ball.
Minutes after squandering the chance he got another and this time he made no mistake. Good footy skills from Kanchana Ramanayaka were on display as he kicked the ball twice on the floor before Rochana Hettiarahchi picked the ball and scored beside the left upright. Rochana Hettiarahchi failed to convert his own try. (Navy 30-19 CR)
Following their second try, CR put their foot down on the accelerator and looked like they scored in the far right corner but it was ruled out as the lines men Irshad Cader cut the calibrations short as he harshly called the final pass forward.
This decision did not deter CR & FC as they managed to milk a penalty from the break down. The resulting kick to touch went deep in to the Navy 22. From the resulting line out CR swung the ball from one side to another and when the ball fell in to Robbie Malneek he displayed his twinkle toes again as he stepped passed 3 Navy defenders this time to score under the post. Kanchana Ramanayaka took a quick drop kick and converted the try. (Navy 30-26 CR)
With just a minute to go in the game Navy restarted and CR found themselves in the Navy 22 but another bad decision to kick the ball from CR fullback Rochana Hettiarahchi cost them as Navy collected and kicked the ball to touch to end the game to the final whistle.
Full Time: Navy SC 30 (3T, 3C, 3P) beat CR & FC 26 (3T, 1C, 3P)
Refree: Eduard Martin Serralta (foreign)
ThePapare.com Player of the Match: Navy’s Riza Mubarak
Navy SC coach Leonard de Silva expressed his view on the game:
Quote “A very good match, CR has come a long way. Till the last minute everyone played their hearts out. The stronger and fitter side showed but CR has a young team there is some thing for us (Navy) to look for the future the upcoming league.”
CR & FC coach Imthi Marikkar’s comments on the game:
Quote “It was a very close match, our boys (CR) played really well, unfortunately time ran out for us.”
