CH and FC crush Old Zahirians 140/3

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

The Colombo Hockey and Football Club crushed Old Zahirians Sports Club by the staggering margin of 140 points (10 goals, 14 tries) to 3 (one penalty) after leading 55-3 at the breather to register the highest score of the season surpassing the previous highest of 120 points to 5 by Kandy Sports Club against Old Zahirians a fortnight ago.

After scoring nine tries in the first half the lads from Maitland Crescent went on the rampage in the next 40 minutes to cross the hapless Old Zahirians goal line on 15 more occasions.CH and FC opened scoring in the 2nd minute when off a second phase move winger Lakala Perera fell over for an unconverted try by the right corner flag.

Three minutes later the other winger Sumith Dahanayake followed a cross kick by fly half Omar Hassan and picked up the ball to score by the left corner flag. Basnayake missed the conversion and CH led 10-0.

In the 8th minute Old Zahirians reduced the deficit when centre Roshan Wijesiri fired across a 20 metre penalty.

In the 13th minute off a second phase move CH full back Nuwan Basnayake scored an unconverted try. Five minutes later off a quick short tap CH scrum half Milinda Jayasinghe scampered through to touch down mid left. Omar Hassan missed the conversion and CH led 20-3.

In the 26th minute off a three quarter move in mid field CH Centre Rushika Fernando sliced through the Old Zahirians defence and ran 40 metres to score under the posts. Basnayake added the extra points to make it 27-3. Two minutes later prop forward Sashika Cooray powered his way to touch down under the posts.

Basnayake converted to make it 34-3. In the 32nd minute off a 10 metre line out CH flanker Dilanka Wijesekera crashed through for a try mid left. Basnayake made no mistake with the conversion (CH 41-3).

In the 36th minute a move begun in mid field ended with lock forward Dinesh Sanjeewa scoring under the posts to give Basnayake an easy kick at goal to make it 48-3.

Just before the breather CH lock forward Wasamba Senarath touched down under the posts and Nuwan Basnayake added the extra points to make it 55-3 at 'lemons'. The lads from Maitland Crescent made merry in the second half to score 15 more tries against the hapless Old Zahirians.

Substitute winger Niranjan Wickramaratne (four), winger Lakala Perera (two), lock forward Dinesh Sanjeewa (two), Tuan Buhari (two), scrum half Milinda Jayasinghe (one), prop forward Sathya Ranatunge (one), honker Achala Perera (one), centre Shane Dissanayake (one) and substitute fly half Sajith Bandara (one) scored the tries of which three were converted by Bandara while Omar Hassan added the extra points to one try.

Referee: Gamini Indrasena.