CR in hard-fought 31-24 win over Havelocks

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

RUGBY: CR and FC scored a hard-fought 31 points (three goals, two tries) to 24 (one goal, one try, four penalties) win over traditional rivals Havelocks Sports Club in their Caltex ‘A’ Division League rugby match played at Longden Place yesterday after leading 17-8 at ‘lemons’.

The Park Club opened scoring in the eighth minute when fly-half Samantha Lakshan fired across a 50-metre penalty and five minutes later off a move begun by flanker Ravi Jayasuriya in mid-field they set the three quarters in motion and winger Ruchira Ratnage put the finishing touches to the move by falling over by the right corner flag for an unconverted try to make it 8-0 in favour of Havelocks.

CR and FC fought back and in the 22nd minute off a five-metre line out hooker Senthil Kumar powered his way to fall over by the left corner flag. He missed the conversion.

Three minutes later, CR snatched the lead when off a second phase move in the Havelocks ‘25’ the Red Shirts set their three quarters in motion and full back Radhika Hettiarachchi who joined the line touched down by the left corner flag. Senthil Kumar missed the conversion (CR 10-8).

On the stroke of half line after winning a scrum in the Havelocks ‘25’ CR set the three quarters in motion and winger Ravindra Wekadapola made a powerful run and then changed direction and slipped out a pass to flanker Ashen Karthelis who in turn sent winger Lasintha de Costa to score by the right corner flag. Senthil Kumar made a spectacular conversion and CR led 17-8 at the breather.

In the eighth minute after resumption off a three quarter move in the CR ‘25’ Havelocks full back Zakir Badurdeen dummied and side-stepped his way past several defenders to score under the posts. Samantha Lakshan added the extra points to reduce the deficit (CR 17-15).

Five minutes later, CR’s centre Avantha Hettiarachchi crashed through for a try under the posts to give Sheriff an easy kick at goal (CR 24-15). In the 17th minute, Havelocks reduced the deficit when Samantha Lakshan put over a 25-metre penalty (CR 24-18).

In the 29th minute off a second phase move CR’s centre Mohamed Sheriff sliced through the Havelocks defence to touch down near the posts and converted it himself to make it 31-18 in favour of CR.

Havelocks fly half Samantha Lakshan made no mistake with two penalties in the 31st and 36th minutes of the second half to make it 31-24 at the final whistle.

Referee: Dilroy Fernando.