CR in disappointing win over Army
 

by Lal Gunesekera

True CR & FC managed to win, but not till they underwent some anxious moments. They beat Army by 26 points (4 tries, 2 penalties) to 16 (1 goal, 3 penalties) after being led 10-13 at half time in their Caltex League (A 1) Rugby Championship game at Longden Place yesterday.

Both sides could be excused as this was their very first game for the season, but the standard that was trotted out was rather poor. The Soldiers lacked the basics of the game, while the red shirts, though with a much stronger outfit, failed to capitalise on the weaknesses of the Soldiers and should have scored more than the four tries.

After T. A. Silva missed a 45-metre penalty for Army in the seventh minute, Viraj Prasanna, put CR ahead off a move that originated from a line-out on the left flank.

Senthil Kumar missed the conversion (CR 5-0). Army's fly-half Kapila Knowlton put them ahead in the 22nd minute after one of the centres had hit the gap, with Silva not making any mistake with the conversion (Army 7-5). Silva again made no mistake with a simple 20 metre penalty for Army to stretch the lead to 10-5 in the 30th minute.

CR's scrum-half Zulki Hameed then made the equaliser with a try mid right, but Hettiaratchi failed with the conversion, and just before lemens, Silva put Army ahead at 13-10 with a 30 metre penalty.

Soon after the turn around, Senthil Kumar put over a simple 22 metre penalty for CR to equalise again (13-all), while in the seventh minute, the red shirts forged ahead when off a forwards rush originating from a line-out on the left flank, skipper Pavithra Fernando, barged over.

Senthil Kumar failed with the conversion (CR 18-13). In the 20th minute, Silva, failed with a simple 22 metre penalty for Army, while four minutes later, CR went further ahead (21-13) with Hettiaratchi making no mistake with a 15 metre penalty.

Six minutes later, CR's replacement on the right wing, Wegodapola, scored off a five-metre scrum, the Hettiaratchi failed with the conversion (CR 26-13). Silva closed the gap for Army off a 10 metre penalty kick in the 33rd minute. Aruna Jayasekera refereed.

Today, there is another A 1 game between the Havelocks and CH & FC at Havelock Park at 4.30 p.m. but whether the game will come off depends entirely on the latter who holds an emergency meeting this morning ever the Jimmy Bolakore issue.