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Old fiddlers play their tune well
By Shamseer Jaleel
The former national players (over 35) showed that though they have hung up their boots they are still in contention when they outplayed the Puffins Rugby Football Club by 29 points (2 goals, 3 tries) to 12 points (1 goal, 1 try) in the Tsunami Relief rugby encounter played at the CR & FC grounds at Longdon Place, yesterday. This game was organised by the Sri Lanka Referees Society.

Puffins Rugby Club playing with most of the expatriates settled well earlier in the first half when Rich Mundi powered his way through to score an early try in the seventh minute of the game. With Andy Steve adding the extra points to take a 7-0 lead. Then the ex national players settled, regrouped and took command and changed their approach towards the game and worked the line to see the former CH & FC and national skipper Chandrishan Perera touching far right (7-5). During this time the Sri Lankan ex national players dominated proceedings winning the line outs and punching holes in the Puffins line consistently. In the 20th minute Asoka Jayasena powered his way for an unconverted try. At lemons the ex national team took a lead 10-7.

Earlier in the second half saw the former national skipper and present President of the governing body Priyantha Ekanayake taking the field and scoring a superb try through a forwards rush (15-7). Five minutes later Puffins RFC scrum half Clark dummied his way to score a superb try to cut the deficit (15-12).

Sri Lankan side gained the much needed territory through some booming touch kicks by Nizam Jamaldeen and Asanga Seneviratne who both played their hearts out. Chandishan Perera who showed a good turn of speed scored a try far left to take the lead (22-12). Five minutes later Chandrishan who had a good game kicked and charged but was tackled without the ball on the try line which saw the ex Sri Lankan players being awarded with a penalty try which was converted by Nizam Jamaldeen to give a 29-12 victory for locals.

The ex national team was led by Hisham Abdeen and the puffins RFC was led by Andy Steve. Nalin de Silva, Jude Pillai, Marco de Silva, Lasitha Gunaratne, Sudath Sampath, Norman Silva, Nishantha Boppearachchi, Chaminda Rupasinghe, Aruna De Silva, Dilroy Fernando were a few of the former national players turning up and playing this much important fixture in order to help out the victims down south who were affected by the Tsunami. A dinner was also organised last night at Taj Samudra Hotel with all collections going to the needy.

Referee Roshan Deen

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