CR storm into semi-final

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

CR and FC stormed into the semi-finals of the Caltex Knock-out Rugby Tournament for the Clifford Cup with a smashing 44 points (four goals, two tries, two penalties) to 22 (one penalty goal, one goal, one try and a drop goal) win over Sri Lanka Police in the quarter-final played at Longden Place yesterday.

Police surged into the lead in the second minute when fly half Wijeweera dropped a goal from 25 metres out.

Eight minutes later CR and FC full back Reza Mubarak put over a 35 metre penalty and in the 16th minute Mubarak fired across another 35 metre penalty.

In the 20th minute CR’s fly half Srinath Sooriyabandara made a break and slipped out a pass to centre Lasintha de Costa who scored by the left corner flag. Mubarak made a splendid conversion to make it 13-3.

Four minutes later off a three quarter more in mid field Srinath Sooriyabandara made a break and gave a pass to centre Karunanayake who touched down mid left. Mubarak missed the conversion (CR 18-3).

In the 35th minute off a move in the Police ‘25’ CR flanker Danushka Perera made a powerful run on the left flank to score by the corner flag. Mubarak made a spectacular conversion to make it 25-3.

Just before the breather CR winger Chathuranga made a break and gave an inside pass to fly half Sooriyabandara who scored by the corner flag. Mubarak made a splendid conversion to make it 32-3 at ‘lemons’.

In the 2nd minute after resumption the Red Shirts increased their lead when fly half Sooriyabandara made a break, punted ahead followed it and collected the ball to touch down mid right Mubarak added the extra points (CR 39-3).

The Policemen came back storming and in the 9th minute off a five metre line out prop forward Malith Hettiarachchi powered his way to fall over for an unconverted try mid left.

Fifteen minutes later the Policemen were awarded a penalty try which was converted by Wijeweera (CR 39-15).

Then the Red Shirts increased the lead when winger Dinesh Kumara put the finishing touches to a three quarter move by falling over by the left corner flag for an unconverted try (CR 44-15).

Just before the final whistle Police’s lock forward Pradeep Wilson crashed through for a try off a five metre short tap. Wijeweera added the extra points.