The fourth week of the Dialog Rugby League 2014/15 kicked off with Hambanthota Sharks taking on the old hands of Sri Lanka rugby CR&FC at Longden Place yesterday evening.
CR&FC coming in on the back of a close defeat to Navy SC last week, did themselves and their fans justice by trouncing the Southern Club 46 (7T 3C 1P) – 10(1T 1C 1P) at full time.
The game kicked off with in cloudy conditions as CR&FC settled themselves in early with the home field advantage and was playing attacking rugby, gradually gaining territory.
Robbert Malneek drew first blood in the eighth minute on the left corner flag after winger Anuradha Herath stepped his way past five defenders with immense pace. Outside-half Nalin Kumara failed to add the extras leaving the hosts 05 nil up. Within two minutes skipper Ashan De Costa’s off load to Malneek saw him draw in the Sharks defense to set up number eight Joseph Fumui. Nalin Kumar added the extras taking the reds to a commanding 12 nil lead in just 10 minutes.
With two early tries in the game and the visitors were under immense pressure having not had the best of seasons so far. CR&FC looked tentative for the next few minutes, being unable to capitalize on a couple of chances to get the scoreboard ticking. Game continued with messy set pieces and bad handling until the twenty seventh minute when Joseph Fumui scored his second try when he broke off the back of a scrum and made his way over the line making the Sharks defense look very flimsy. The failed conversion meant CR led 17-00
With the easy three try lead the home lads took their foot off the peddle enabling the Sharks to take advantage by scoring their first try of the game. Center Joseph Dunn chipped the ball over the defender chased it down and scored in the thirtieth minute. With a good conversion the visitors trailed by ten points for lemons.
Half Time – CR&FC – 17 (3T 1C) Hambanthota Sharks – 07 (1T 1C)
The second half of the game was expected to be slightly more competitive but the slew of tries by the home team drowned the sharks. The first points of the half came when Nalin Kumar bisected the uprights to increase the lead by thirteen points. Fullback Rochana Hettiarachchi finished off the fourth try for the reds as after the pill was worked swiftly through the back-line. Kanchana Ramanayake adding the extra points boosted the lead to twenty points.
The Hambanthota kicker added a penalty to his previous conversion, in the fifty eighth minute off a penalty. The hosts replied with another try in the seventy fifth minute taking the score to 32-10, taking the bite out of the sharks. The last two tries came in quick succession for the home team and they etched the win having run in seven tries, three conversions and one penalty while the visitors managed to score just the solitary converted try and penalty.
With extremely scrappy set pieces the sharks never really showed the quality expected of a club rugby team. The defense that they put together on the field was not much to speak of and is likely an indicator or a tough season for the rookie club. CR&FC too had opportunities to play a better game but the usual unforced errors halted many more tries which was indeed a pitiful sight to witness. CR&FC hold the potential to score a multitude of tries but they need to work on their finishing.
With protests and complains piling up against the officials, the job done by referee Carder was commendable and may hopefully be a sign of things to come.
Full time – CR &FC – 46 Hambanthota Sharks – 10
ThePapare.com player of the match – Robbie Malneek (CR&FC)
