CR crush Old Zahirians - 85/3

By Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: The reigning President’s Trophy champions CR and FC went on the rampage to crush Old Zahirians Sports Club by 85 points (5 goals, 10 tries) to 3 (1 penalty) in their Caltex ‘A’ Division league rugby match played at Longden Place yesterday after leading 42-0 at the breather.

The Red Shirts who scored eight tries in the first half went on to cross the Old Zahirians goal line on seven more occasions in the next 40 minutes.

CR opened scoring in the fourth minute when of a short-tap in their territory scrum-half Amjad Buksh slung out a pass to centre Thilina Manoj who sliced through the Old Zahirians defence and sent out a pass to fly-half Ashan de Costa who scored under the posts.

Amjad Buksh converted. Seven minutes later off a second phase move No. 8 Dushanth Lewke crashed through for a try near the posts. Buksh missed the conversion and CR led 12-0.

Two minutes later CR winger Mohammed Jabbar collected a clearance kick by an Old Zahirian defender and sent a pass to centre Thilina Manoj who drew the defence and slipped out a pass to winger Dinesh Kumara who burst through to fall over for an unconverted try to make it 17-0.

In the 23rd minute off a 10-metre line out CR flanker Danushka Perera powered his way to touch down mid-left. Buksh missed the conversion. Three minutes later off a second phase move CR centre Lasintha de Costa sped over 50-metres to score mid-left. Buksh failed with the conversion and CR led 27-0.

Two minutes later off a three-quarter move in mid field CR full-back Mohamed Sheriff sliced through the Old Zahirians defence and burst through to fall over for an unconverted try to make it 32-0.

In the 32nd minute off a maul in the Old Zahirians ‘25’ CR scrum-half Amjad Buksh scampered through to touch down by the right corner flag. CR 37-0.

Four minutes before the breather CR lock-forward Henry Terrence crashed through for a try by the corner flag. Buksh missed the conversion and the Red Shirts led 42-0 at half time.

In the second half CR scored seven more tries through winger Mohamed Jabbar (one), centre Lasintha de Costa (one), lock forward Gayan Fernando (one), No.8 Dushanth Lewke (one), centre Kosala Tissera (one), full-back Mohamed Sheriff (one) and substitute winger Reza Mubarak (one) of which two each were converted by Amjad Buksh and Reza Mubarak. For Old Zahirians centre Roshan Wijesiri fired across a 40-metre penalty.

Referee: A. C. Tennekoon.