CR in runaway 81-11 win over Police

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: CR and FC turned in a dazzling display of open rugby to beat Sri Lanka Police by the staggering margin of 81 points (nine goals, three tries, one penalty) to 11 (one try, two penalties) after leading 31-3 at the breather in their Caltex 'A' Division League rugby match played at Police Park yesterday to register the highest score for the season.

CR's three quarters made maximum use of the 'good ball' which came their way by running the ball at every opportunity. Centres Mohamed Sheriff and Lasintha de Costa sliced through the Police defence time and again with their side-stepping and speed while wingers Dinesh Kumara and Wekadapola always looked dangerous with their powerful runs down the flanks.

The Red Shirts won an abundance of possession with Senthil Kumara outhooking his vis-a-vis Chandralepa in the set scrums and the trio of Gayan Fernando, Dharmatillake and Karthelis towering above the rest in the line outs.

No. 8 Navin Wijetunge who had a grand game was a source of inspiration to his team-mates with his fiery loose play and with Boteju, Gayan Fernando, Dharmatillake, Senthil Kumara and Pavithra Fernando playing like terriers in the loose the CR 'eight' completely outplayed their counterparts.

The policemen opened scoring in the 3rd minute when Harshana Wijeweera put over a 30 metre penalty.

CR equalised in the 25th minute when Mohamed Sheriff fired across a 30 metre penalty. Three minutes later off a second phase move in mid field CR set their three quarters in motion and centre Lasintha de Costa sliced through the Police defence and sped over 40 metres to score under the posts. Mohamed Sheriff added the extra points to make it 10-3.

Four minutes later off a second phase move in the Police '25' scrum half Amjad Buksh slung out a pass to centre Lasintha de Costa who burst through to score mid right. Mohamed Sheriff converted and CR led 17-3.

In the 36th minute CR's winger Dinesh Kumara was tackled off a three quarter move in mid field but he slung out a pass to Anuradha Dharmatilake who in turn slipped out a pass to the omnipresent flanker Ashen Karthelis who dashed through 40 metres to touch down under the posts.

Sheriff made no mistake with the conversion (CR 24-3). On the stroke of half time CR scrum half Buksh picked up a loose bull in mid field and slung out a pass to burly hooker Senthil Kumara who powered his way for 30 metres to score under the posts.

Sheriff added the extra points to make it 31-3 at 'lemons'. In the second minute after resumption CR's No. 8 Navin Wijetunga made a break off a second phase move in mid field and slipped out a pass to centre Mohamed Sheriff who sped over 30 metres to score under the posts and converted it himself to make it 38-3.

Ten minutes later CR's winger Wekadapola collected a high kick in mid field and slipped out a pass to Lasintha de Costa who sent Mohamed Sheriff to touch down by the corner flag. Senthil Kumara made a spectacular conversion to make it 45-3.

The Red Shirts who went on the rampage scored six more tries through winger Radhika Hettiarachchi (two), No. 8 Navin Wijetunga (one), full back Asanga Rodrigo (one), winger Ravindra Wekadapola (one) and centre Lasintha de Costa (one) with Senthil Kumara, Rodrigo and Sheriff converting one each.

The only consolation for Police came mid way in the second half when full back Danushka Pubudu fell over for an unconverted try after smothering a kick by a CR defender and Harshana Wijeweera fired across a 40 metre penalty.

Referee: Pradeep Fernando.