CR edge out Police 22/20

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

CR and FC staved off a fierce challenge in the second half by Sri Lanka Police to win by 22 points (one goal, three tries) to 20 (two goals, two penalties) in their Caltex ‘A’ Division League rugby match played at Police Park yesterday after leading 22-6 at the breather.

The Red Shirts surged into the lead in the 10th minute of the first half when off a scrum in mid field No. 8 Dushanth Lewke made a break on the blind side and slung out a pass to winger Ravindra Wekadapola who kicked ahead, followed it and collected the ball to fall over for a try by the left corner flag. Senthil Kumar missed the conversion (CR 5-0). Six minutes later Police reduced the deficit when centre Harshana Wijeweera put over a 25 metre penalty.

Two minutes later off a second phase move CR lock forward Anuradha Dharmatilleke crashed through for a try under the posts. Senthil Kumar added the extra points to make it 12-3. In the 26th minute CR were awarded a penalty in mid field and No. 8 Dushanth Lewke took a quick short tap and sent out a pass to lock forward Anuradha Dharmatilleke who when challenged by a Police defender slipped out a pass to prop forward Naveen Wijetunge who fell over for an unconverted try by the left corner flag (CR 17-3).

Ten minutes later off a second phase move in the Police ‘25’ CR winger Dinesh Kumara made a break and gave an inside pass to centre Senthil Kumar who scored mid right. He missed the conversion (CR 22-3).

On the stroke of half time the Policemen reduced the deficit when Harshana Wijeweera made no mistake with a 30 metre penalty and CR led 22-6 at ‘lemons’.

In the 15th minute of the second half Police were awarded a 40 metre penalty but Harshana Wijeweera’s kick went astray. Ten minutes later Wijeweera fluffed another penalty from 35 metres out. In the last 10 minutes Police launched an all out attack on the CR goal line and in the 35th minute Police won a five metre line out and flanker Nilusha Fernando crashed through for a try by the left corner flag. Harshana Wijeweera made a spectacular conversion and the score read 22-13.

Just before the final whistle off a second phase move in the CR ‘25’ the Policemen set their three quarters in motion and full back Jeevan Amaradasa who joined the line scored by the left corner flag. Harshana Wijeweera taking the kick at goal sent the ball sailing over the cross bar to make it 22-20 in favour of CR at the final whistle. Referee: Aruna Rankothge.