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| Sunday, 29 June 2003 |
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CR squeeze out 31/29 win over Havies by LAL GUNASEKERA CR & FC escaped by a whisker with a mere two points separating them from their traditional rivals Havelocks which they finally won by 31 points (3 goals, 2 tries) to 29 (3 goals, 1 try, 1 drop goal) after being led 12-15 at half time in their first-round Caltex "A" Division League Rugby Championship match at Havelock Park yesterday. It was a game well fought right to the end, and at one stage with CR leading 31-15 it looked as if it got out of hand. There was Havies centre Joseph Waqa the Samoan who was throwing his fists around in gay abandon. He was sent into "Sin Bin" with poor Viraj Prasantha who had just replaced Anuranga Walpola. This was not the first time that Waqa had got himself into similar "bouts", but he has escaped. It is high time that the Havelocks hierarchy instilled more discipline into this side who are playing exceptionally well after many seasons with Ana Saranapala to guide them. The Havies were really unlucky. At one stage they were set to beat CR at "The Park" for the first time since 2000. They tackled hard and kept a close watch on the fast CR outsides as well as the forwards who played their hearts out. But came the second half, and it looked as if CR were "possessed" outfit with three tries, to lead 31-15, but Havies fought back to score two tries within the final five minutes of play to reduce the lead. In the end it was CR's superior back-division that brought about this victory. Within the first five minutes itself, CR, were penalised inside Havies "22" and to add to their woes, fly-half Charith Kodagoda fluffed two simple penalties within range. Havies opened scoring in the 12th minute through a drop by fly-half Jiffrey Saheed and four minutes later, their forwards brought play into CR territory ending with Waqa touching down for a converted try. Then came the two missed penalties by Kodagoda for CR, who reduced the lead in the 34th minute through a try by hooker Walpola off a short-tap. Havies increased the lead further through a try by full-back Lalindra Rodrigo after centre Ruwan Suranga had "hit the gap". Just before half time, CR, reduced the lead with full-back Asanga Rodrigo, who had a splendid game, finding the gap and running over 20 metres to score. Soon after the "turn around", CR, went into the lead for the first time with No. 8, Savantha de Saram rolling over and in the 20th minute went further ahead with Asanga Rodrigo forming the overlap to send centre Haren Kaluaratchi over near the right corner flag. Ten minutes later, CR, struck again. It was Kaluaratchi again, but this time on the left flank after the game had changed direction. Then came two tries by the Havies through second-rower Senaratne and scrum-half Tariq Mohamed. Anil Jayasinghe refereed.Today, Air Force play hosts to Navy at Katunayake at 5 p.m. |
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