Police fight back to beat CR and FC 36 – 28

Thushan JAYASURIYA

A Superb second half rally by Sri Lanka Police helped them to beat CR and FC by 36 points ( two goals, two tries, three penalties and a drop goal ) to 28 points (two goals, one try and three penalties) in their Dialog ‘A’ division league tournament match played at Longden Place yesterday.after trailing by 17 – 18 at half time.

New Zealander Sam Aolele opened the account for Policemen with a penalty .The red shirts grabbed the lead with an unconverted try by hooker Prasad Madusanka (CR 5 – 3) . CR and FC went ahead further when skipper Lasintha de Costa scored by the corner flag which was converted by Luke Muggerridge to make it 12 – 3 in favour of CR. They swelled the score when Luke Muggerridge made no mistake with a penalty and CR led 15 – 3.He fired across another penalty and the Red shirts were sitting pretty at 18-3.

Then the Policemen fought back with two superb tries by winger Shanaka Kumara and Flanker T.D.Seneviratne.with both tries being converted by Sam Aolele to make it 18 – 17 at the breather.

The red shirts increased their lead soon after the half time through a try by Winger Lasintha de Costa which was converted by Luke Muggerridge( CR 25 – 17 ) .

The Policemen hit back with a powerful try by the corner flag by Number Eight William Batiratu which was not converted and the score read 25 – 22. But the Red shirts increased the lead when Luke Muggerridge fired across a 35 metre penalty to make it 28 - 22.

Then the Police fought back gallantly. First Sam Aolele dropped a goal from 50 metres out and then put over a 25 metre penalty to equalize at 28 -all.

Then during the last five minutes Police Winger Jeevan Amaradasa scored an unconverted try to give the Police a 33 – 28 lead. With three minutes to go, Sam Aolele put the issue beyond doubt by firing across a 40 metre penalty and Police ran out worthy winners by 36 – 28 .

Pradeep Fernando referred.