CR in runaway 62-7 win over Havelocks

RUGBY: Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club came up with a power-packed display to crush arch rivals Havelocks Sports Club by 62 points (five goals, one penalty goal, four tries) to 7 (one goal) in their Caltex 'A' Division League rugby match played at Longden Place yesterday after leading 22-7 at the breather.

It was the second highest score in a CR-Havelocks encounter with CR just failing by two points to equal the highest score of 64-nil scored by them at Havelock Park last year.

The Red Shirts won an abundance of possession with hookers Vinoj Prasantha and his replacement Anuja Perera outhooking Rajiv Perera in the set scrums while in the line outs the CR duo of Dharmatilleke and Karthelis towered above the rest.

The CR forwards also came up with a terrific display in the loose to completely outplay their counterparts with Prasantha, Boteju, Dharmatilleke, Walpola, Karthelis and skipper Pavithra Fernando giving of their best.

The three quarters made the maximum use of the 'good ball' that came their way with fly half Asanga Rodrigo, centres Mohamed Sheriff, Hettiarachchi and winger Dinesh Kumara making some daring runs.

The Red Shirts opened scoring in the fifth minute when hooker Viraj Prasantha crashed through for a try by the right corner flag off a five metre line out. Ten minutes later CR increased their lead when they were awarded a penalty try which was converted by Avantha Hettiarachchi to make it 12-0.

In the 19th minute Havelocks reduced the deficit when burly prop forward Chathuranga Amarasinghe powered his way to touch down under the posts off a second phase move. Sajith Bandara made no mistake with the conversion to make it 12-7.

In the 33rd minute CR prop forward Danushka Boteju crashed through for an unconverted try off a five metre line out. Just before the breather CR's Danushka Boteju scored his second try when he put the finishing touches to a move begun by No. 8 Anuranga Walpola in mid-field by falling over for an unconverted try by the right corner flag and CR led 22-7 at 'lemons'.

In the 7th minute after resumption CRs winger Dinesh Kumara scored under the posts off a second phase move, but Hettiarachchi surprisingly failed to add the extra points. Two minutes later CRs Mohamed Sheriff scored the best try of the match when he made a 50 metre run side-stepping and dummying his way past several defenders to touch down under the posts. Hettiarachchi converted to make it 34-7.

Then the Red Shirts went on the rampage to score four more tries through fly-half Asanga Rodrigo (two), centre Mohamed Sheriff and flanker Ashan Karthelis all of which were converted by full back Anura Priyantha to make it 62-7 at the final whistle.

Referee: Nizam Jamaldeen

(R.S.)