CR win in lack lustre game

By Lal Gunesekera

RUGBY: CR & FC beat Police by 32 points (1 goal, 5 tries) to 15 (1 goal, 1 try, 1 drop goal) in a lack lustre Caltex 'A' Division Cup Championship rugby match at Longden Place yesterday after leading 17-3 at half time.

After their disastrous performance and defeat last week against Kandy SC, the champion outfit in the local scene, the Red Shirts does not seem to have recovered. They had plenty of opportunities of scoring, but failed to capitalise

Police on the other hand fared much better than what one expected from them, but failed to penetrate CR's defence more often than they did. Their defence was tight.

CR managed only three tries in the first session through right winger Ruwan Hettiaratchi, No 8 Navin Wijetunga and burly prop forward Swarnatilleke with Mohamed Sheriff converting only Wijetunga's try. The Police replied through a drop goal by fly-half Harshana Wijeweera.

After the turn around, it was Police who scored first through prop Hewawasam who crashed through off a maul. Wijeweera missed the conversion and two penalties too. CR managed to score only in the 23rd minute through replacement right winger who scored twice with Amjad Bukah too going over.

All three tries went unconverted. A Police forward went ever in the closing stages with Wijeweera making no mistake with the conversion.

Pradeep Fernando refereed.

Today, there are two Cup category games. CH & FC host Army at Mainland Crescent while Kandy Sports Club take on Havelocks at Nittawela.

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