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The Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club withstood a fierce challenge from the Sri Lanka Army to win by 25 points (two goals, one try, two penalties) to 14 (one try, three penalties) in their Caltex 'A' Division League Rugby match played at Longden Place, yesterday after leading 15-8 at the breather.

The soldiers surged into the lead in the 10th minute when full back T. A. Silva fired across a 20 metre penalty. Ten minutes later CR and FC snatched the lead when burly No. 8 Savantha de Saram barged through to touch down off a five metre scrum. Roshan Peiris missed the conversion but nine minutes later Peiris put over a 30 metre penalty to make it 8-3.

In the 33rd minute Army's centre Vajira Jayatilleke booted a loose ball from mid field which was picked up by CR full back Asanga Rodrigo whose clearance kick fell into the hands of Army winger Sithara Fernando who scored by the corner flags. Silva missed the conversion and the scores read 8-all.

On the stroke of half time the Red Shirts went into the lead once again when off a five metre scrum No. 8 Savantha de Saram crashed through to touch down by the left corner flag. Roshan Peiris made a spectacular conversion to make it 15-8 in favour of CR at 'lemons'.

In the fourth minute after resumption the soldiers reduced the deficit when T. A. Silva made no mistake with a 25 metre penalty to make it 15-11. Six minutes later the Red Shirts increased their lead when Roshan Peiris fired across a 25 metre penalty. In the 17th minutes of the second half Army's T. A. Silva put over a 20 metre penalty to make it 18-14 in favour of the Red Shirts.

Just before the final whistle the Red Shirts put the issue beyond doubt when off a five metre scrum fly half Roshan Peiris dummied and side-stepped his way past several defenders to touch down under the posts and converted it himself to make it 25-14 in favour of CR at the final whistle.

Referee: Anil Jayasinghe. 

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