Mohan Chathura Seneviratne played the game of his life with five penalties to steer his team CR and FC to a magnificent 36-19 victory over Police SC in their SLR Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament match played at Longden Place.
The dynamic fly half rose to the occasion when his team was under tremendous pressure and produced a fine exhibition of place-kicking to emerge as one of the top points scorer in the current season. The game was somewhat slipping away from the CR and FC as Police SC took a surprise lead midway in the second half after the scores were level 12-12 at half time.
The Red Shirts were running out of any try-scoring options against a formidable opposition, and they eventually turned towards their most reliable place-kicker in their attempt to keep their chances alive.
This turned out to be a make-or-break game for the talented Seneviratne, who had faced similar match-situations earlier in his schools’ career while representing Kingswood College and St. Joseph’s College with distinction. The 2017 Milo Presidents Trophy Knock-Out Rugby Tournament final was a classic example where young Seneviratne dished out some fantastic rugby to help St. Joseph’s beat Isipathana College 19-13 and emerge champions for the first time at the Rac ecourse Grounds in Colombo.
On that occasion, he scored a try in the first half and then fired across three match-winning penalties in the second half to claim the coveted Player-of-the-Match Award.
Five years later in his career, Seneviratne was at the back of a similar scenario as the CR and FC were looking for a match-winner to pull them out from certain humiliation.
Cometh the man and cometh the hour, Seneviratne was prepared to take up the challenge as he produced probably his best performance in his career as a place-kicker while attempting his kicks even from 50 metres out. He began his mission to rescue the team with his first penalty coming in
the 58th minute and from there onwards it was sheer brilliance from
Seneviratne, who turned out to become an overnight hero for the CR and FC. Seneviratne, of course, gave a glimpse of his potential when he booted two penalties and scored a try in the opening match of the tournament against Havelock SC and once again, he was in the limelight with two important penalties against the defending champions Kandy SC last week.
Seneviratne may be blessed with his natural talent for place-kicking and that would certainly bring some pride among two of his uncles – Eranda and Nalaka Weerakkody – two former great place-kickers who represented the country.
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