CR secure thrilling win over Havies with last minute try
CR&FC held their nerves to capitalise on an opportunity that came across in the dying minutes of their SLR Nippon Paint Club Rugby League 2023, to overcome Havelocks SC by a mere two points and secure a thrilling 23-21 win at Havelock Park yesterday.
Having travelled across a few miles to play their first game of the country’s core domestic club rugby competition, the Red Shirts led the halftime 9-7, and scored from two converted tries and three penalties. Hosts Havelocks were trailing most of the time, but were able to regain their lost momentum after scoring from three converted tries to lead, 21-16 just under 10 minutes from fulltime.
Yet, they were stunned by a last minute try from CR lock Gayan Dilshan, which brought the scores level, and with a clear conversion from flyhalf Thenuka Nanayakkara, a virtual win was sealed with just a minute of the game left.
It was the visitors who drew first blood, off centre Mohan Chathura, who put over a penalty within the fourth minute, as Havies committed way too many mistakes. Yet, the home team was able to make it up with a brilliant touchdown from winger Randitha Warnapura, whose try was converted by flyhalf Sandesh Jayawickrama to help Havelocks gain the lead for the first time 7-3 by the 15th minute.
But Havelocks continued their mishaps only to concede two penalties in the 18th and 30th minutes, as CR’s Nanayakkara and Chathura put over both opportunities respectively to help regain the lead 9-7, and maintain the lead up until halftime.
Soon after the resumption, Chathura and Nanayakkara combined to give CR expand their lead to 16-7, with the former bracing the try and the latter making the conversion. Almost 20 minutes on, flyhalf Jayawickrama sneaked in to score a try off a brilliant offload from Mithun Hapugoda. With Jayawickrama making the conversion to cut down Havelock’s deficit to 14-16.
With the momentum regained, Havelocks did not waste much time to score their third try off centre Iranga Ariyapala, who brilliantly caught up the ball off a kick by Hapugoda to touchdown. With Jayawickrama’s conversion, Havelocks regained the lead 21-16 with eight minutes away from fulltime, until CR’s Dilshan and Nanayakkara performed the unthinkable to steal away a possible win.