CH salvage Army jolt for second win
CH&FC pulled off a stunning comeback to secure a narrow 19-17 victory over Army SC in their SLR-MasterCard Club Rugby League Week 5 encounter at the Racecourse Stadium in Colombo yesterday. Despite trailing 5-10 at halftime, the Maitland Crescent club earned their second win of the season with a gutsy performance.
The game opened with 27 minutes of scoreless action, as both teams displayed exceptional defensive discipline. Army finally broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when Kaveen Perera powered over for the first try of the match. Fullback Isuru Medagedara failed to convert, leaving the Soldiers with a 5-0 lead.
Soldiers were ruthless, but CH&FC were clinical to secure a narrow win - Pic courtesy thePapare
The Soldiers extended their advantage just before halftime with a well-constructed try by fullback Medagedara. The move was initiated by Dhanushka Talwatte, whose crisp pass from scrum-half Kumarasinghe set Medagedara free to cross the line. Once again, Medagedara’s conversion attempt went astray, but the Soldiers led 10-0 in the 38th minute.
Army’s momentum suffered a setback when outside centre Lahiru Ratnayake was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on just before the interval. On the stroke of halftime, CH&FC skipper Janidu Dilshan injected life into his side with a brilliant solo effort. His electric run down the wing evaded two Army defenders, resulting in an unconverted try that reduced the deficit to 10-5 at the break.
The lads from Matiland Crescent exploded into the second half with two quick-fire tries that turned the game on its head. Within three minutes of the restart, flanker Udesh Madushanka and centre Randitha Warnapura crossed the whitewash in succession. Both tries were converted by flyhalf Janith Chandimal, giving CH a commanding 19-10 lead by the 43rd minute.
Army SC fought back valiantly, with Mohammed Akram producing a sensational try in the 71st minute. Ashen Bandara slotted the conversion to narrow the gap to 17-19, setting up a tense finale. Dilshan’s try at the brink of halftime was pivotal in shifting the momentum. His leadership and attacking flair were crucial in his team’s comeback, giving them a much-needed boost when they were trailing.
Chandimal’s accuracy off the tee played a decisive role in CH’s victory. The successful conversions after both tries early in the second half allowed his team to build a lead that Army struggled to overcome. Army’s fullback Medagedara’s inability to convert two early tries ultimately cost them dearly. Had those kicks been successful, the Soldiers could have put more pressure on CH in the second half, potentially changing the outcome of the match.