CR enter semi-final with an unimpressive 27-7 win over Airmen

By Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: Defending champions CR and FC entered the semi-finals of the Caltex Inter-Club knock out rugby tournament for the Clifford Cup with an unimpressive 27 points (1 goal, 4 tries) to 7 (1 goal) win over a gallant Air Force outfit in the quarter final played at the Royal Sports Complex yesterday after leading 5-0 at the breather.

Air Force's forwards especially Saumya Silva, Vithanage, Bandara, Weeraratne, Ediriweera and skipper Kurukulasuriya came up with a terrific display to match upto the CR 'eight'. The famed CR three-quarters too could not make much headway with centres Udaya Hettiarachchi and Lasintha de Costa being at the receiving end of some fierce tackling by their opposite numbers Arunashantha and Charith Seneviratne.

The Red Shirts opened scoring in the third minute of the first half when burly prop forward Henry Terrence barged through to touch down mid-left off a ten-metre line-out. Amjad Buksh missed the conversion. This was the only scoring in the first half with CR being unable to penetrate the rock hard Air Force defence.

In the 7th minute after resumption off a second phase move CR worked their three quarters and full back Radhika Hettiarachchi joined the line to touch down by the left corner flag.

Buksh missed the conversion (CR 10-0). In the 21st minute off another second phase move winger Ravindra Wekadapola scored by the left corner flag. Mohamed Sheriff made a spectacular conversion to make it 17-0. Eight minutes later CR were awarded a penalty in the Air Force '25' and scrum half Zulki Hamid took a quick short-tap and set the three quarters in motion and full back Radhika Hettiarachchi put the finishing touches to the move by scoring by the corner flag. Sherif missed the conversion (CR 22-0).

Two minutes later off another second phase move CR winger Ravindra Wekadapola sped over 20-metres and then kicked ahead and collected the ball on the follow through to fall over for an unconverted try by the corner flag to make it 27-0.

Five minutes before the final whistle the Airmen reduced the deficit when scrum half Radeesha Seneviratne picked up a stray pass off a CR three quarter move and dashed through for over 30-metres to score under the posts. Fly half Chanaka Chandimal converted to make it 27-7.

Referee Orville Fernando.