CR storm into semi-final
Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE
CR and FC stormed into the semi-finals of the Caltex Knock-out Rugby
Tournament for the Clifford Cup with a smashing 44 points (four goals,
two tries, two penalties) to 22 (one penalty goal, one goal, one try and
a drop goal) win over Sri Lanka Police in the quarter-final played at
Longden Place yesterday.
Police surged into the lead in the second minute when fly half
Wijeweera dropped a goal from 25 metres out.
Eight minutes later CR and FC full back Reza Mubarak put over a 35
metre penalty and in the 16th minute Mubarak fired across another 35
metre penalty.
In the 20th minute CR�s fly half Srinath Sooriyabandara made a break
and slipped out a pass to centre Lasintha de Costa who scored by the
left corner flag. Mubarak made a splendid conversion to make it 13-3.
Four minutes later off a three quarter more in mid field Srinath
Sooriyabandara made a break and gave a pass to centre Karunanayake who
touched down mid left. Mubarak missed the conversion (CR 18-3).
In the 35th minute off a move in the Police �25� CR flanker Danushka
Perera made a powerful run on the left flank to score by the corner
flag. Mubarak made a spectacular conversion to make it 25-3.
Just before the breather CR winger Chathuranga made a break and gave
an inside pass to fly half Sooriyabandara who scored by the corner flag.
Mubarak made a splendid conversion to make it 32-3 at �lemons�.
In the 2nd minute after resumption the Red Shirts increased their
lead when fly half Sooriyabandara made a break, punted ahead followed it
and collected the ball to touch down mid right Mubarak added the extra
points (CR 39-3).
The Policemen came back storming and in the 9th minute off a five
metre line out prop forward Malith Hettiarachchi powered his way to fall
over for an unconverted try mid left.
Fifteen minutes later the Policemen were awarded a penalty try which
was converted by Wijeweera (CR 39-15).
Then the Red Shirts increased the lead when winger Dinesh Kumara put
the finishing touches to a three quarter move by falling over by the
left corner flag for an unconverted try (CR 44-15).
Just before the final whistle Police�s lock forward Pradeep Wilson
crashed through for a try off a five metre short tap. Wijeweera added
the extra points. |
