Navy fight-back to beat CR

By Sajeewa Jayakody

Navy Sports Club made a gallant fightback to register a thrilling 31 points (three goals, two tries) to 27 (two goals, two tries, one penalty) win over CR and FC in their Dialog ‘A’ Division League Rugby Tournament match played at CR and FC grounds, Longden Place on Saturday after trailing 12-17 at half time.

It was CR, who opened scoring in the third minute of the game. Winger Hashan Maduranga touched down near the post to score the first try in the match. The conversion was missed by Rimzi Jamaldeen. Navy equalized, scoring their first try with a superb effort from winger Dinusha Fernando, who ran round to score near the post Nuwan Hettiarachchi surprisingly missed the conversion and the scores read 5-5.

Five minutes later, Navy’s Nuwan Hettiarachchi, missed a 40-metre penalty. The Sailors snatched the lead in the 20th minute. Fijian Jone Avokia, who had a grand game against CH and FC last Sutarday, touched down near the post, which was converted by Nuwan Hettiarachchi to make it 12-5.

Ten minutes later, CR reduced the deficit as flanker Dushanth Lewke scored a try, but Rimzi Jalaldeen missed the golden opportunity to level the points missing the conversion with Navy leading 12-10.

In the 36th minute, the home team snatched the lead as lock forward Hasthika Bandaranayake scored near the right corner flag and Rimzi adding the extra points with a beautiful kick to give the Red Shirts 17-12 lead at the ‘breather’.

It was a superb try by cynosure of the Navy rugby team, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, who ran over 50 metres to touch down near the left corner flag. But unfortunately, he himself missed the conversion and the scores read 17-17 in the fifth minute after resumption.

Navy once again snatched the lead in the ninth minute of the second half as Fijian Katakolu Matedeai scored an easy try after crossing the CR goalline and ran round to score under the post. Nuwan Hettiarachchi added the extra points to make it 24-17 giving a much needed lead for the sailors.

CR’s Jamaldeen fired acrossed a 40-metre penalty kick in the 15th minute to reduce the deficit with Navy leading 24-20. The Sailors increased the lead Dinusha Fernando, scoring the last try for Navy near the corner flag, with Hettiarachchi making no mistake with the conversion and the Sailors led 31-20.

CR’s dashing winger Vishwamithra Jayasinghe scored the last try for CR and FC with a blistering run. Rimzi Jamaldeen made the conversion to make 31-27 in favour of Navy at the final whistle.