Red Shirts complete league campaign on a high
Last year’s champions CR&FC showed their pedigree as they came from behind to defeat Air Force SC by 31-16 in a gripping final-week encounter of the SLC-MasterCard Club Rugby League at Longden Place, under the floodlights last night. The Red Shirts, trailing 7-9 at halftime, turned the tide in the second half to secure a well-earned victory, earning them third place in the competition.
The Red Shirts put on a clinical display, scoring five tries, and three conversions to finish with a commanding 31 points. In a hard-fought battle, Air Force managed one converted try and three penalties, totaling 16 points. Despite the strong effort from the Airmen, it the Red Shirts’ superior attack that made the difference.
The match kicked off with Air Force taking the early advantage. Fullback Pasindu Perera slotted a penalty in the third minute, putting the Airmen ahead 3-0. CR responded with a powerful maul, allowing flanker Omalka Gunaratne to touch down in the 26th minute, giving a 7-3 lead after Mursheed Doray’s conversion.
Air Force, however, were quick to rally. Perera added another penalty to narrow the gap to 6-7, and just before halftime, the Airmen’s fullback converted a third penalty to edge them ahead 9-7 at the break. Both teams had fought tooth and nail, with a slender two-point lead to show for their efforts.
The Red Shirts, missing their regular captain Gemunu Chethiya and flanker Adeesha Weeratunga due to injuries, needed a strong second-half response. They found it 12 minutes after the restart when Gunaratne, once again breaking free from a maul, powered over the line for his second try of the match. Doray’s conversion gave CR a 14-9 lead.
However, a setback followed for CR when flyhalf Thenuka Nanayakkara was sin-binned, leaving the team down to 14 players. Air Force capitalised, with Perera’s precise kicking and a strong scrum leading to a try in the left corner. The conversion extended their lead to 16-14 in the 62nd minute.
The game remained finely balanced, but CR’s experience and determination came to the fore in the final quarter. Hooker Venura Kodagoda scored an unconverted try following a powerful rolling maul, putting the Red Shirts back in front 19-16 in the 67th minute.
With the clock ticking, scrumhalf Viduna Amaneth delivered the knockout blow. First, he dived over under the posts in the 71st minute, and then, just minutes later, slipped through the Air Force defence for another unconverted try, sealing the game at 31-16 in the 77th minute.