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| Sunday, 7 August 2005 |
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Brawls galore, but CR win by Lal Gunesekera There were brawls galore, but table leaders managed to beat CH & FC by 15 points (3 tries) to nil after leading 5-0 at half time in a Cup category game of the Caltex League Rugby Championship at Longden Place yesterday. It was a disgrace to the game of rugby. CH has to be penalised by the controlling body - SLRFU, for the disgraceful way their players indulged in fist-cuffs in the second session where even a player (Sameera Wijesinghe) who was sent into Sin Bin earlier got off his seat and started assaulting CR players in the 25th minute after a CH player was tackled in possession. Eight minutes earlier Wijesinghe was sent into Sin Bin after "undercutting" CR's Karthelis in a line-out. He was seen using his fists with players from both sides going at each other. It was brought under control by referee Aruna Jayasekera. Then the eruption started again with Wijesinghe and CH's flanker Dhanushka Perera been shown the red card. Soon afterwards, another CH player, Achalanga, was seen late tackling CR's Sheriff, and was sent into Sin Bin too. It was a disgraceful sight to see these CH players throwing their fists around. To add insult to injury, Rohan Abeykoon, who is supposed to be a national selector, was seen and heard insulting the referee from his seat in the pavilion. What a way for a selector to behave. CR too should take some blame. They must do everything possible to keep away their ardent supporters from congregating near the right corner of the pavilion. They too got themselves involved in the brawls, but CR's hierarchy managed to keep them away from the playing area. CR kept play constantly in CH's territory in the first session, but failed to penetrate CH's defence. They made too many mistakes and were penalised too. Their backs never got the opportunity to run with the ball with the forwards battering CH into submission, which saw them score their first try before the breather through right winger Wegodapola after they had won a five-metre scrum. After the turn around the 12th minute, No. 8 Walpola, barged through off a 10-metre line-out in CH's left flank and CR led 10-0, and just before the final whistle, Wegodapola again following a punt by Asanga Rodrigo went over near the right corner flag. All three tries were unconverted. Today, there are two Cup category games. Army take on the defending champions Kandy SC at Galle Face, while Havelocks meet Navy at Havelock Park. In the Plate category, Old Zahirians meet Air Force at Maitland Crescent. |
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