Police in smashing 29-14 win over CR

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

Police Sports Club enhanced their chances of retaining the ‘Plate’ Championship when they beat CR&FC by 29 points (3 goals,1 try and a penalty) to 14 (2 goals) in their Dialog ‘A’ division Plate Championship match at the Police grounds, Bambalapitiya, yesterday.

The winners led 17-7 at the half way mark.

The two teams looked evenly balanced but for the law enforcement officers their two foreign players Figians Rokobu Nasoni and William Batirtu gave the cutting edge to put the ‘red shirts’ out of contention. When ever the duo were in possession they were willing to run the ball which resulted in favour of Police. After Police scoring early through a Shanaka Kumara penalty Figian Rokobu Nasoni extended the lead for Police with a breath taking run covering almost 50 metres to score under the post for Shanaka Kumara to add the extra points.

Minutes later the other Figian William Batirt deceived a couple of opposing players to pierce a gap to touch down for Shanaka Kumara to add the extra points for the second time. The ‘red shirts’ played well within themselves in the initial stages of the game ,but with the Policemen supporting their two play makers well were unable to convert any of their moves into points. However, ‘CR’ reduced the deficit when Sajith Shuhaib scored and Mushin Faleel gave them the extra points.

In the second half Police went on to plant two more tries through Nasoni Roboku of which one was converted. During the dying stages of the game CR&FC scored their second try when scrum half Piyum Jayasinghe broke off and touched down under the post for Faleel to make an easy conversion.

Referee Irshad Cader.