Ratwatte brilliance drowns Navy resolute
Tharinda Ratwatte helped CR&FC record a famous victory with a contribution of 23 points. He scored two tries, made five conversions and a penalty - Pic by Amila Gamage
There was sweet happenings and a cause for jubilation for the Red Shirts and their supporters at Longdon Place. It was the second match of the Dialog League 2017. CR kicked off the game with promise but some erratic moments saw Navy leading at half time by 23-7. CR had other ideas as it seemed that a pep talk at lemons changed their fortunes to beat Navy by 38 points (5 goals and a penalty) to 23 points (2 goals and 3 penalty).
Centre Tharinda Ratwatte was the toast for CR while fullback Rehan Silva who came in the second half did a difference in attack and defense playing at full back.
Navy were comfortable at the halftime break with their lead. CR had their own plan upsetting the party for the Sailors, who seemed to have thought the match was in their hands by the break.
CR started with an ambitious hunt as they taking the ball into Navy 22 but there was nobody to pick a ball that came from a ruck there. Navy picked up which centre Muhsin Faleel scored under the posts in the third minute. With a successful conversion by fullback Thilina Weerasinghe Navy took a lead of 7-0
Tharinda Ratwatte collected a ball in his own ’22′ and did a scorching run as he swerved and cut in into score under the posts and convert in the 10th minute. Score 7-all.
In the 19th minute Weerasinghe put through a penalty for not rolling away and immediately converted another penalty for Navy to extend the lead to 10-7. In the 37th minute Weerasinghe touched down and converted himself to lead 23 points to 7.
Halftime was taken with Navy leading 23 (2 goals and 3 penalties ) to CR 7 (1 goal).
Navy kicked off the second half and were attacking inside the CR ’22′ but could not keep possession and CR took the attack to Navy for hooker Supun Warnakulasuriya to score. It was converted by Ratwatte. Score CR 14 -Navy 23.
CR scored again as forward Wagisha Weerasekera scored and was converted by Ratwatte. Ratwatte followed with a penalty form 40 metres out for CR to lead 24 points to 21. Navy had an opportunity to take the lead in the 35th minute but they fluffed earlier having converted more difficult ones.
Ratwatte turned trumps again to score and convert around the 40th minute for CR to take a comfortable lead 31 points to 23.
CR scored once through winger Sashan Mohammed in injury time to romp home winners. Ratwatte converted to make the final score 38 points for CR against the 23 scored by Navy. CR scored 31 points in the second half to none by Navy.
Ratwatte converted 5 five tries and a penalty an also scored twice to round off the day with a personal tally of 23 points.