CH in easy 15-0 win over Police

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: The formidable CH and FC kept their unbeaten record intact with an easy 15 points (one goal, one try, one penalty) to nil win over Sri Lanka Police in their Caltex 'A' Division league rugby match played at Maitland Crescent yesterday after leading 10-0 at 'lemons'.

The game turned out to be a one sided affair with the Policemen failing to live up to expectations with their fly half Harshana Wijeweera wasting the 'good ball' which came their way by kicking ahead aimlessly.

The CH trio of Sanjeewa, Malewana and Ruwantilleke held sway in the line outs while the set scrums were shared between CH's Achala Perera and Police's Chaminda Silva. In the loose, there was a close tussle for supremacy between CH's Ranaweera, Achala Perera, Sanjeewa Malewana, Bopearachchi and skipper Wijesekera and Police's Hewawasam, Welagedara, Chaminda Silva, Dias, Wilson and Nalin Acharige.

CH could have won this game by a much bigger margin if not for some resolute tackling by the Policemen especially centres Nilusha Fernando and Priyantha Ekanayake.

CH and FC surged into the lead in the 16th minute of the first half when they won a line out in mid field and set the three quarters in motion and winger Lakala Perera made a powerful run and when challenged he punted ahead and collected the bouncing ball on the follow through to touch down mid right. Sajith Bandara made no mistake with the conversion.

Twelve minutes later, Sajith Bandara fired across a 25 metre penalty from a difficult angle to make it 10-nil in favour of CH at the breather.

In the seventh minute after resumption off a second phase move in the Police '25' CH set their three quarters in motion and winger Niroshan Ekanayake put the finishing touches to the move by crossing the Police goal line and ran round to score under the posts. Sajith Bandara missed an easy kick at goal and CH led 15-0.

Referee: Aruna Jayasekera.