CR and FC stave off Havelocks’ challenge to win 17-12

By Sajeewa Jayakody

CR and FC’s winger Anuradha Herath about to score his team’s first try with his opposite number Sandun Herath making a vain atttempt to foil him in their Dialog A Division League rugby match played at Longden Place yesterday, which CR and FC won 17-12. Pic Susantha Wijegunasekara

The young CR and FC outfit came up with a superb performance to beat the more fancied Havelocks Sports Club by 17 points (two goals, one penalty) to 12 (one goal, one try) in their Dialog ‘A’ Division League rugby match played at Longden Place yesterday after leading 10-5 at ‘lemons’.

It was the Red Shirts who dominated the first half when they ran the ball at every opportunity with centres Robbie Malneek and Kanchana Ramanyake tearing apart the Havelocks defence. They opened scoring when off a three-quarter move, winger Anuradha Herath scored by the corner flag. Shanaka Kumara made a splendid conversion and CR led 7-0.

They kept on attacking but the Havies defence stood firm. Then the Park Club made a fine comeback late in the first half when skipper and flanker Sudarshana Muthuthanthri scored mid-right off a rolling maul. Fly half Dulaj Perera failed to add the extra points.

The Red Shirts increased the lead when Shanaka Kumara made no mistake with a 40-metre penalty in the 30th minute and CR led 10-5 at the ‘breather’.

In the sixth minute after resumption, CR and FC went ahead further when their New Zealand centre Robbie Malneek scored mid-right off a three-quarter move. Shanaka Kumara added the extra points and the Red Shirts led 17-5.

Then came the Havelocks’ fight back. They made several threatening moves with Siaosi Young and winger Sandun Herath making some daring runs.

In the 20th minute, off a five-metre scrum, their scrum half Kavindu Costa scampered through for a try mid-right. Fly half Dulaj Perera added the extra points and the score read 17-12.

They made several raids on the CR goal line but the Red Shirts repulsed those attacks and the Longden Place club ran out winners by 17-10 to register their second successive win.

Referee: Priyantha Gunaratne