CR’s late rally overruns Army

by Sajeewa Jayakody

CR and FC second rower Ishan Noor grimaces as he attempts to break through the Army defence (Picture by Susantha Wijegunasekera)

After being contained in the first half, CR and FC went on the rampage in the second half to beat Army by 35 points (three goals, one try, three penalties) to 15 (one goal, one try, one penalty) in their season opening inter club Dialog League rugby match played at the CR and FC ground, Longden Place, Colombo yesterday.

At half time Army led 10-6.

The home team’s winger Pramodha Mekalanka dominated up-front in the second half with two tries in the 30th and 35th minutes helping CR and FC to go ahead in the latter part of the game.

It was Dilan Zoysa who took the lead in the 25th minute as the reserve player held a menacing high ball to pounce and bundle himself over from five metres out. Fullback Prince Chamara made no mistake with a splendid conversion to make it 16-15.

CR’s winger Pramodha Mekalanka ran some 40 metres to score his first of two back to back tries. Mekalanka ran down the left flank to make it 28-15 with the second try.

Number Eight Sasanka Ariyaratne scored a dazzling try near the left corner to give CR the final scoreline of 35-15 and the win.

The hosts opened scoring in the fifth minute with a 50-metre penalty and their fullback Prince Chamara did a splendid job to earn three points.

Five minutes later, Army scored their first try through outside half Ashan Bandara who made a simple and easy touch-down under the posts. Fullback Gayan Salinda converted it for Army to take an early 7-3 lead within the first 10 minutes of the game.

CR and FC reduced the deficit as Prince Chamara, the former Science College player put over a 30-meter penalty.