CR and FC huff puff and jump

In a match riddled with unforced errors, reigning champions CR and FC defeated Air Force by 27 points (1 goal and 4 tries) to 7 (1 goal) in a Caltex powered Clifford Cup quarter final game at Royal College Sports Complex yesterday.

The champions spent the majority of the first half camped near the five metre line of their opponents. Unfortunately knock-ons and judgment errors cost them dearly. Air Force on their part defended as if their very lives were at stake. They tackled relentlessly anticipating every ploy that was used against them. However, that was to take a heavy toll later in the game.

The forces team also did not seem to have any offensive weapons they could deploy against their opponents. Only on two occasions did they manage to get in to CR and FC’s territory only to be sent right back on the hop.

The victors opened scoring in just the third minute when prop Henry Terrance shoved his way over the line. Scrum half Amjad Buksh missed the conversion. At lemons the CR and FC led by a solitary try and a highly unlikely upset seemed almost a probability.

But the red shirts rang in the changes in the second half. The introduction of flanker Pavithra Fernando and centre Mohommad Sheriff seemed wake CR and FC from their slumber. Suddenly they were stringing phases together without dropping the ball. They were stretching the tiring Air Force defense by spreading the ball wide. Within the space of just 20 minutes the champions touched down no less than four times. Full back Radhika Hettiarachchi grabbed a brace as did wing three quarter Ravindra Wekadapola. One try was converted by Sheriff.

Wekadopola’s second try was the best out of the lot. First he punted and collected before sprinting to the line with the Air Force defense back peddling in vain. Air Force scored a consolation try when scrum half Radeesha Senaviratne intercepted the ball and dashed to the line. Fly half Chanaka Chandimal made no mistake with the conversion.

The set pieces were shared as were the rucks and mauls.

The victors had the chance to put the cherry on top of the cake when Sheriff made one of his typical line breaks before passing to Fernando who was acting as first receiver. Fernando in turn took on two Air Force defenders before passing the ball to Hettiarachchi who unfortunately dropped the ball while touching down.

Orville Fernando refereed.

Yellow cards: Dinesh Weeraratne and Radeesha Seneviratne – both from Air Force League champions Kandy will play Havelocks at Nittawela on Tuesday while CR and FC will play the winners of today’s game between CH and FC and Police, at Longden Place on Wednesday in the semi finals.