CR & FC paid the price for making hasty and appalling decisions as they were edged out by a totally revamped Havelocks Sports Club by 25-24 in a grueling Caltex A division Cup segment league rugby encounter at Longdon Place yesterday. Though CR were domiciled in the Havelocks territory in majority of the match their pattern was unsettled by the lack of finishing touches and failed to add crucial points sans the services of a proper place kicker. Havelocks on the other hand were opportunistic to make use of the slightest mistakes conceded by CR.
Havelocks after making a solid start went on to lead the first half by 17-10 and went on to score four tries, a conversion and a penalty. CR after failing to put over two penalties and a drop goal which would have been crucial towards the final outcome ended up with four tries and two conversions.
Havelocks took the slimmest passage to their own advantage and ended up touching down thrice during the first half while defending their backyard. Havelocks touched down at the 10th, 15th and 32nd minutes through their signature three-quarter moves to lead by 17-0 after skipper Amjad Buksh failing to convert two of them.
The first try came from centre Chamara Withanage who collected the ball from third-row-forward Paula Talaka to run over 50 metres. This was followed by another by outside centre Anuruddha Wilwara who touched down from a pass from skipper and scrumhalf Amjad Buksh. Fullback Sajith Bandara crossed over line for Havies for their third try far left from a blind side move. CR too made a positive comeback off three-quarter moves centre Ashan de Costa and winger Heshan Gunaratne took the passage to touch down far left in the 35th and 39th minutes. De Costa who failed with two penalties earlier missed out both conversions forcing him to be replaced with fullback Mohamed Sheriff as CR trailed by 17-10 at half time.
CR equalized in the 50th minute after the turnaround from skipper and No.8 Dushanth Lewke who crashed off a maul in the left flank. Sheriff put over a tough conversion to give back CR life at 17-all. But Buksh starred twice for the Havies with a penalty in the 56th minute and an unconverted try, collected from a lose maul four minutes later to put them at 25-17 with nearly 20 minutes to the end. Lewke and Sheriff combined to repeat their previous effort in the 75th minute but fell short of a point when referee Priyantha Gunaratne blew the long whistle. |
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