CR avenge last year's defeat at 'The Park'

By Lal Gunasekera

RUGBY: CR & FC continue to remain unbeaten in the Caltex 'A' Division League Rugby Championship. They avenged last year's second-round defeat (5-9) at Havelock Park by defeating traditional rivals Havelock last evening at "The Park" by 28 points (1 goal, 3 tries, 2 penalties) to 6 (2 penalties) after leading 16-3) at half time.

CR who have now won six games on the trot will face defending champions Kandy Sports Club in a "crunch" game next Sunday (July 1) at Longden Place. Kandy too are unbeaten so far and this game may decide the champions of the Caltex League.

Yesterday, CR, managed to score only two tries in each session. Coach, Tavita "Laga" Tulagaese the Western Samoan, will have to work hard on his players if they hope to got the better of Kandy. There were chinks in their armour yesterday which has to be rectified.

Havelocks looked as if they will lose by a big margin - the way they played in the first session. But came the second, and they looked a rejuvenated outfit and the first 20 minutes belonged to them. They played with more determination and had territorial advantage, but just could not manage to put the finishing touches to any move.

CR's skipper Dharmatilleke scored first after backing up a fine three-quarter move in the seventh minute, but Sheriff, missed the conversion (CR 5-0). However, Sheriff, made amends six minutes later with a simple 22-metre penalty (CR 8-0). He put the Red shirts further ahead (11-0) in the 20th minute with another 30-metre penalty left. Seven minutes later, CR, scored their second try with centre Sheriff, putting the final touches to a move started by Ashan Karthelis who had joined the outsides, but failed with the conversion (CR 16-0).

Havies reduced the lead in the 40th minute through a 20-metre penalty by scrum-half Rajapakse, but Thajudeen failed to reduce the lead further in a failed 30-metre penalty attempt just a half time.

After resumption, Havies threatened CR with move after move and one of their centres put over a drop kick in the eighth minute from 22-metres (Havelocks 6-16). Then came CR's third try the game in the 20th minute through substitute second-rower Gayan Fernando mid-left and Sheriff again missed the conversion (CR 21-6). Rajapakse then failed with a 30-metre penalty for Havies in the 27th minute, and just before the final whistle of Pradeep Fernando, flanker Pavithra Fernando barged over mid-left and this time Sheriff obliged with the conversion.(CR-6).

Today, Old Zahirians meet Air Force at Longden Place at 4.30 p.m.