CR enter Clifford Cup final

By Lal Gunesekera

CR & FC entered the final of the Caltex Clifford Cup knock-out Rugby Championship with a close 21 points (3 tries, 2 penalties) to 13 (1 goal, 2 penalties) win over Air Force in the first semi-final at Longden Place yesterday. CR had a slender 8-7 lead at lemons.

CR will now meet the winners of today's semi-final (Havelocks vs CH & FC at Longden Place) on Saturday (August 12) in the final.

The red shirts were minus five regulars and had to fight hard to win. They scored their tries through flanker Ashane Karthelis, Prop. Swarnatilleke and skipper Pavithra Fernando. All three tries were unconverted, while Senthil Kumar and Sheriff kicked over the two penalties.

For the Airmen, scrum-half Ajith Indika scored the solitary try which was converted by Nalin Sirisena, who also put over two 35-metre penalties.

Priyantha Gunaratne refereed.