Red-hot CR ‘threes’ dazzle
CR winger Janidu Dilshan scoring their first try against Havelocks yesterday - Pic by Amila Gamage
CR&FC’s three quarters produced a sparkling performance to romp past Havelocks scoring five tries in a dazzling 30-17 win in a thrilling Dialog Club Rugby League Championship second round clash at Longden Place yesterday. At half-time the winners led 13-3.
CR regained the Mathysz trophy having an aggregate of 52-47 from the two legs which was presented by a stalwart of the club Michael Mathysz who was the chief guest.
Havelocks had the better of the early exchanges as their forwards held the edge but poor ball handling during a scrappy passage of play in the first half that put paid to their chances of making a serious fight back. They clawed their way back to score two consolation tries at the end but CR produced champagne rugby to leapfrog Havelocks and Police into second place in the table having 38 points including a bonus point. Defending champions Kandy SC are perched on the top with 46 points ahead of their clash against CH&FC while Police (35) have a chance to regain second spot if they beat Navy this evening.
CR were forced on the defensive by a rampant Havelocks at the start as they set a hot pace, phasing out attacks after winning a turn over to surge ahead through a penalty converted by Prince Chamara with the game just over four minutes old. They almost scored thereafter when skipper Mithun Hapugoda sliced his way through but the ball popped out after he had crossed the line. CR survived this initial onslaught with Havelocks being guilty of dropping the ball like hot potatoes at crucial stages and never looked like the side which won the first round encounter 30-22.
Once CR got into their stride in the second quarter with the halves combination of Rahul de Silva and Chanaka Chandimal pairing smoothly, launching attacks with clinical precision to send Havelocks backpeddling. It was a burst of brilliance from Sri Lanka winger Reeza Raffaideen that opened the floodgates for CR. Murshid Zubair and Kevin Dixon exchanged slick passes before Janidu Dilshan screamed across to score the first of his two tries in the right corner in the 24th minute. Zubair failed with the conversion.
CR lost their fiery skipper Omalka Gunaratne to the sin bin in the 28th minute but Raffaideen scored a classic corner flag try four minutes later as Havelock fumbled with a high ball and faltered as the ‘red shirts’ swarmed all over. Raffaideen fluffed the conversion but CR were ahead 10-3 with Zubair converting a penalty to give them a 13-3 at the interval.
With the CR ‘threes’ running riot executing scissors and loops to run circles around the opposition with young Zubair being outstanding in attack, they got the bonus point with two superb tries within the space of six minutes early in the second half. Centre Dinuk Amarasinghe powered his way to score on the left in the 46th minute after the CR backs moved the ball beautifully in phased out moves. Their fourth try was possibly the best as Dilshan galloped across after fly half Chandimal stretched the defence with a long pass to full back Dixon for yet another unconverted try to give CR an unassailable 23-3 lead.
Havelocks showed they had some fight left in them when flanker Shawket Lahir crashed over from a rolling maul following a line out in the 57th minute which Santhush Algama converted to close the gap 10-22.
But CR wrested back the initiative as captain Gunaratne who hurtled himself forward at every given opportunity, streaked across to score under the posts with Riza Mubarak adding the extra points as they enjoyed a 30-10 cushion with seven minutes remaining.
Havelocks got another consolation try through Vimukthi Rahula near the posts which Algama converted in the 79th minute. But it was too little too late for the Park Club who ran out of steam. However, centre Theekshana Dissanayake made a welcome return and initiated many attacking moves while winger Naveen Henakankanamge made a valiant effort to break through CR’s defence. Skipper Hapugoda stood out in attack and manned the last line well apart from his blunder which resulted in a try.
Referee – Hasitha Weranga