CR in smashing 32-5 win over Havelocks

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

RUGBY: CR and FC kept their hopes alive for the league title when they beat Havelocks SC comprehensively by 32 points (2 goals, 3 tries and 1 penalty) to 5 (1 try) in their crucial Caltex ‘A’ division league rugby encounter at Havelock Park yesterday to retain the Commander Eustace Matthysz Trophy with an aggregate of 45 points to 14 having won the first round game by 13-9.

The ‘Red Shirts” who had to win this match to remain in contention for the league title got their act together in the second half as the winners had only a slender 10-5 lead at the breather.

It was centre Mohamed Sheriff that got things moving for the winners. He provided the cutting edge to the ‘CR’ backs and Havelocks only had to defend while CR and FC back division attacked relentlessly. The CR forwards also had a great game completely outplaying their counterparts in the loose.

Flanker Pavithra Fernando was a source of inspiration with his fiery loose play and was ably supported by Danushka Boteju, Anuja Perera, Dharmatilleke, Danushka Perera and Diren Warnakulasuriya as the CR ‘eight’ reigned supreme in the loose.

The winners opened scoring only in the 24th minute of the game when fly half Ashan de Costa touched down to score an unconverted try off a three quarter move. Havelocks struck back through their winger Wasim Thajudeen to level the scores at 5-all when he picked up the ball off an up and under and scored by the right corner flag.

CR and FC sprang back into the lead when off a penalty in mid field centre Mohamed Sheriff took a quick short tap and dummied and side stepped his way past several defenders for over forty metres to fall over for a glorious try mid right, Reza Mubarak missed the conversion and CR led 10-5 at the breather.

The ‘Red Shirts’ increased their lead in the sixth minute of the second half when full back Reza Mubarak fired across a 35-metrr penalty to make it 13-5. Five minutes later the ‘red shirts’ put the issue beyond doubt when off a cross kick winger Dinesh Kumara touched down by the left corner flag.

Mohammed Sheriff made a splendid conversion and CR led 20-5. In the 24 minute off a three-quarter move in the Havelocks 40 strongly built centre Niroshan Karunanayake powered his way past several defenders to score under the posts. Mohamed Sheriff converted (CR 27-5).

Five minutes later CR won a 10-metre line out and the forwards drove over the Havies goal line with Pavithra Fernando scoring by the corner flag, Sheriff missed the conversion and CR ran out worthy winners by 32 points to 5.

Referee. Pradeep Fernando.