CH in smashing 40-5 win over Army

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

CH and FC came up with a power-packed display to score a smashing 40 points (five goals, one try) to 5 (one try) win over Sri Lanka Army in their Caltex ‘A’ division league rugby match played at Police Park yesterday after leading 40-nil at the breather.

The lads from Maitland Crescent surged into the lead in the second minute when No. 8 Sumedha Malewana crashed through for a try from a five metre scrum and fly half Omar Hassen made a spectacular conversion. Ten minutes later off a second phase move CH winger Indika Udayakumara scored mid right. Omar Hassen converted to make it 14-0.

In the 21st minute off another second phase move CH centre Matheesha de Silva scored mid left. Fly half Omar Hassen added the extra points and CH led 21-0. Eight minutes later, CH full back Milinda Jayasinghe kicked ahead and Army’s full back T. A. Silva fumbled with the collection and Milinda Jayasinghe who followed it picked up the ball and scored under the posts to give Omar Hassen an easy kick at goal (CH 28-0).

In the 32nd minute CH lock forward Dinesh Sanjeewa began a move in mid field and slung out a pass to centre Matheesha de Silva who slipped out a pass to winger Indika Udayakumara who crossed the Army goal line and ran round to score under the posts. Omar Hassen added the extra points to make it 35-0.

Two minutes before the breather, off a five metre short tap CH scrum half Tuan Shamrock slipped out a pass to prop forward Sathya Ranatunge who crashed through for an unconverted try by the left corner flag and CH led 40-0.

In the second half the soldiers gave a much better display and prevented CH from crossing their goal line with some good spoiling work.

The only scoring effort in the second half came in the 23rd minute when off a second phase move Army winger Saliya Handapangoda dashed through 30 metres to score by the right corner flag.

T. A. Silva missed the conversion and CH ran out winners by 40 points to 5.

Referee: Priyantha Gunaratne.