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| Sunday, 9 May 2004 |
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Police in exciting 24/23 win over CR by LAL GUNESEKERA What a game it turned out to be. CR & FC led 18-11 at half time. Police then took the lead 21-18 early in the second session and with five minutes to go for the final whistle, CR, again took the lead 23-21. But then came the unexpected. A penalty right in front of the posts 22 metres away and Police' Wijeweera had the easiest on conversions to see the law enforcement officers win by 24 points (1 goal, 1 try, 4 penalties) to 23 (4 tries, 1 penalty) in their first-round Caltex League Rugby Championship game at Police Park yesterday. Police played really well only in the second session, particularly through their heavy and robust forwards. They tackled well too, which finally put the skids on the red shirts, who made the mistake in playing Asanga Rodrigo on the left wing. This utility player is an attacking full-back and should have played in the last line of defence in place of Dinuk de S. Wijeratne, who crossed over from Maitland Crescent this season. Towards the latter stages of the game he was brought in as fly-half, but it was too late in the day. Luke Rogayawa the Fijian fly-half of Police who kicked astray the vital penalty last week against Army which they would have won, once again fluffed a simple 22 metre penalty in the fifth minute, but three minutes later, kicked correctly a 30-metre penalty left for Police to lead 3-0. In the 14th minute, saw CR's right winger, Denis Mwanga, make the first of his three tries with a sweeping run down his flank. (CR 5-3) Police made it 6-3 through another Rogayawa penalty from 30 metres in the 16th minute. Mwanga was again the scorer in the 25th minute for CR to take the lead once again (10-6) and went further ahead five minutes later through a simple 10 metre penalty by Kodagoda (CR 13-6). Police reduced the lead in the 36th minute through a try by Wijeweera who formed the overlap to touch down near the left corner flag. (Police 11-13) Then in injury time, Mwanga, scored his third try for CR off another splendid run and CR led 18-11 at half time. After the "turn around", prop Shantha Rohana scored under the posts for Police off a ruck formed through a short tap and with Wijeweera converting, Police, had made the equaliser (18-all). This was in the fifth minute and in the 12th minute, Police, went ahead 21-18 through a 22-metre penalty by Wijeweera. In the 35th minute, Asanga Rodrigo now playing as fly-half put CR ahead 23-21 through a good try, but then came Wijeweera's match winning penalty for Police just on time. Anil Jayasinghe refereed. Abdul Majeed, the former Zahira College, CR & FC, Police and Sri Lanka wing three-quarter, was the chief guest and the two sides were introduced to him before the kick-off. Today, Kandy Sports Club (defending champions) take on Air Force at Nittawela. |
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