CR power too much for Police - lose 51-3

by Chris Dhambarage

Unbeaten CR and FC powered their way to register the third successive victory this season outplaying Sri Lanka Police Sports Club by a convincing margin of 51 points to 3 points in their Caltex inter club 'A' division league rugby tournament first round match played on their home grounds at Longden Place yesterday.

CR and FC playing with a great amount of confidence collected their points from three goals, six tries having led 15 points to 3 points at half time. Police SC managed to put over only a solitary penalty.

This was easily CR and FC's best effort in the tournament so far having earlier defeated Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club by 29 points to five points and Sri Lanka Army Sports Club by 26 points to 13 points at Galle Face last week. CR and FC certainly gave a clear indication that they are one of the strong contenders for the league title and also signalling a warning to the rest of their opponents.

Police Sports Club of course took the initiative with a 25 metre penalty from their full back Kapila Knowlton. But they could enjoy that lead only for a short period as CR and FC came back strongly scoring twice in the space of seven minutes.

They got their act together well after a shaky start and soon began to run the ball quite regularly that helped them builed up a commanding lead at half time. The CR and FC forwards carried on with the good work from where they left off last week at Galle Face while forming a superb combination in both line outs and set pieces.

The CR third row completely outclassed their opponents in the loose with number eight Shamly Nawaz leading from the front. Incidentally Nawaz had the honour of scoring their first try after their forwards had won possession from a five metre line out.

CR and FC also proved that they possess an equally brilliant back line with speedy winger Mohamed Renaz scoring twice before the half time. The former schoolboy of St. Peter's College took the opportunity to prove himself and sliced through the Police SC defence adding the finishing touches quite beautufully.

This was followed by a another typical CR and FC forwards move where flanker Anuranga Walpola fell over following a series of five metre scrums soon after half time. Mohamed Sheriff made no mistake with the conversion this time and CR and FC led 27-3 at that stage.

Another significant feature in the CR and FC line up was their halves combination of Zulki Hamid and Asanga Rodrigo. Fly half Rodrigo had another good game while setting the three quarters quite regularly and also adding pressure on the opposition with his excellnt kicks to touch.

In fact Asanga Rodrigo himself planted their fifth try after CR and FC had decided to run the ball from mid field and eventually ending up in a third phace move. CR and FC then launched their final assault on the Police SC defence during the last ten minutes of the game and had the satisfaction of topping the fifty point mark for the first time in the tournament.

Asanga Rodrigo scored his second try while Mohamed Sheriff, Rajith Jayasundera and M. J. Mushtaq scored a try each for the winners. Sheriff did well to convert the last three tries. Roshan Deen refereed.