Havelock SC hooker Prasath Madusanka scored four excellent tries against CR & FC on Saturday night at Havelock Park as the hosts won their Dialog Rugby League 2015/16 second round fixture by 26 (4T,3C) points – 21 (2T, 1C, 3P).
The second place in the final standings of the Dialog Rugby League 2015/16 was on offer for both teams. After a heavy downpour in the evening, Tarinda Ratwatte of CR & FC got the match underway under lights as the rain eased down.
Both teams implemented a tactical kicking ploy early on but the forwards showed some urgency in play even though there was not much of running rugby first up. The Havies’ line was caught off-side in the 10th minute but a difficult 50-meter penalty by Kanchana Ramanayake was unsuccessful.
Photo Album – Havelock SC v CR & FC (Dialog Rugby League 2015/16)
CR & FC got the scoreboard ticking just after the first-quarter was completed as Prince Chamara booted over a 25-meter penalty after the hosts were penalized for hands in the ruck. (Havies 00 – CR 03)
At the 25-minute mark, Rahul De Silva & Rehan Thiyagarajah set up a brilliant try for Prasath Madusanka as CR & FC were found guilty of playing loose ball during a ruck inside their own territory. Rimzie Jamaldeen made no mistakes with the conversion. (Havies 07 – CR 03)
With four minutes to go for half-time, Danushka Ranjan, returning from a long layoff from injury, made a scintillating run as poor ball handling by CR & FC enabled the dashing center to come close to the whitewash and eventually Prasath Madusanka pounced on the oval ball to score his second try. Jamaldeen bisected the posts with ease. (Havies 14 – CR 03)
On the stroke of half-time, CR & FC received a crucial penalty when the tackler, Prince Chamara was not released by Hirantha Perera and Dushmantha Priyadharshana. Chamara convincingly booted over the 45-meter penalty as the referee blew the whistle.
HT: Havelock SC 14 – CR & FC 06
After the turnaround, Jamaldeen restarted the game with a nice hanging kick. The home team’s forwards were once again at their routine workout as they made way for Prasath Madusanka to complete a hat-trick of tries soon after the second half started. Jamaldeen made a hash of the conversion. (Havies 19 – CR 06)
The visitors found some possession and territorial advantage which resulted in another 40-meter penalty which Prince Chamara booted through the uprights excellently to reduce the deficit to only 10 points. (Havies 19 – CR 09)
Former Trinity College skipper and CR first five-eighth Tarinda Ratwatte inconsequentially bounced off his own player and sniped through the Havies defense in the 54th minute which Prince Chamara converted comfortably to bring their team back into the game. (Havies 19 – CR 16)
A few minutes later, Kavindu De Costa made a perfect chip-kick which Kanchana Ramanayake read excellently and went past two defenders to score a superb try as the ‘Reds’ came back, storming into the lead once again, with little over 20 minutes left in the game. Prince Chamara made a mess of the conversion. (Havies 19 – CR 21)
Former Isipathana College front-row forward, Prasath Madusanka playing the season of his life did nothing wrong throughout the game as he barged his way over the try-line to score his 4th try of the match in the 65th minute as the hosts’ regained the lead. Jamaldeen added the extra points. (Havies 26 – CR 21)
The hosts lost Dushmantha Priyadharshana in the last few minutes when he was sent to the ‘Naughty Chair’ but they defended ferociously, not allowing their opponents to cross the line furthermore in the game, to retain the Matheysz Trophy at Havelock Park.
FT: Havelock SC 26 (4T, 3C) – CR & FC 21 (2T, 1C, 3P)
Referee – Priyantha Gunarathne
ThePapare Man of the Match – Prasath Madusanka (Havies Hooker)
The Man of the Match and the current highest try-scorer in the league with 12 tries to his name, Prasath Madusanka shared his views exclusively to ThePapare.com after the game, “Extremely happy about my performance and my team’s performance. Because of their hard-work only I got to score 4 tries.”
Points Scorers:
Havelock SC – Prasath Madusanka 20 points (4 tries), Rimzie Jamaldeen 6 points (3 conversions)
CR & FC – Tarinda Ratwatte 5 points (1 try), Kanchana Ramanayake 5 points (1 try), Prince Chamara 11 points (3 penalties, 1 conversion)
