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CH manacle Police
CH&FC - 25
Police - 10
By Bernie Wijesekera
The energetic young, mobile CH&FC 'eight' playing cohesive rugby outplayed Police SC by 25 points (2 goals, a try and 2 penalty goals) to 10 (a goal and a penalty goal) in a Caltex Trophy Premier League match at Police Park yesterday. The Maitland Crescent Club led 14-0 at the turn around. CH&FC celebrated their sponsorship package offered to them only a few days ago by Abans with a bang to overcome the tough blue shirted team who gave nothing away.

The CH back division playing cohesive rugby was in control. In the first half CH scored two tries. Fullback Dinuk Wijeratne and Samoan centre Kinnis touched down. Both were converted by Saranga Jayakody.

Police in the second half scored a penalty put over by fly-half Harsha Wijeweera and a try by hooker Muthumala. Wijeweera added the extra points (14-10). CH increased their lead through two penalty kicks put over by Jayakody to make it 20-10.

CR’s great escape
CR&FC - 31
Havelocks - 29
By Bernie Wijesekera
CR and FC cruising 31-15, but the never-say-die Havelocks SC had the park aglow with a spectacular fight back only to lose by 29 points (3 goals, a try and a drop goal) to 31 (3 goals and two tries) in an enthralling Premier League A Division game played before an enthusiastic crowd at Havelock Park yesterday. CR led 15-12 at Lemons.
This traditional match was a much looked forward to event in the rugby calendar.

It produced high quality open rugby for fans to enjoy. The pink and brown jerseyed team showed dour fighting qualities. When the going gets tough, the tough run away and hide. But the Havelocks fought to the bitter end to make it one of the best played at the Park this season. The rugby fanatics are sure to make a comeback in their numbers to watch good rugby in the ongoing season.

It was the red shirts backline that made gaping holes in the Havelocks defence with some dazzling run and pass play. Winger Harin Kaluarachchi was the pick to score two fine corner flag tries.

Their power and pace was there in abundance. How sweet the taste of victory is and how bitter the fall can be to any team. In the end the Havelocks added a lot of sparkle with two tries minutes before the long whistle. At times with the game hotting up it was marred by temper tantrums. But in the end it was all forgotten and the game was the ultimate winner.

Havelocks scored in the fifth minute with a drop goal put over by Jeffrey Saheed. They surged ahead when winger S.Hettiarachchi touched down. He himself converted 10-0.
CR hit back when hooker Walpola rolled over. Charitha Kodagoda converted 10-7. Then a brilliant try by fullback Asanga Rodrigo who used all his power to go over the line was unconverted to make it 15-12 at the break.

After the turn around CR scored a fine try powered by No 8 Savantha De Saram. Charith Kodagoda arrowed it beautifully to make it 19-15. Inspired CR had the line on the move where Kishan Musafer broke, When challenged he passed to Kalu to dart over. Another fine try by Kaluarachchi saw Kodagoda make no mistake with the conversion to make it 31-22. Havelocks third try was by Lahiru Boteju. Then followed two tries by centre Waka and scrum half Tariq to make it 31-29 in a rousing contest.
Referee Anil Jayasinghe.

Kandy down Army
Kandy - 37
Army - 23
Kandy SC played like many times crowned champions they are to beat Army by 37 points (2 goals, 4 tries, 1 penalty) to 23 (2 goals, 3 penalties) at a jam-packed Nittawela Stadium last evening.

However, Kandy didn't have it all their own way. It would be true to say that they capitalised on their opponents mistakes to run up the points quite often. Kandy took an early lead through a Weerakkody penalty. Laga then initiatedthe first try, breaking on the blind side and passing to Weerakkody who hit the gap and sent Hettiarachchi through. (8-0).

Centre Shimaga hit back for the Army with a dandy run, with the Kandy defence non existent. This was off a scrum in the Kandy 25. Silva converted to makeit 8-7.] Ten minutes later Buksh slanted his lean frame through a tiny gap to go over a five yard scrum. Weerakkody added the points (15-7).

An Ajith Pieris grubber ended in the hand of Pushpakumara who made ground and sent Bandaranaike over (20-10). FullbackSilva converted a penalty to make it 20-10 at Lemons.

The frenetic pace of the first half was missing for much of the second. The game picked up in the last ten minutes when Army’s, every man-jack got into battle.
Silva made it 20-13 early on but the euphoria was short-lived as Seam Wijesinghe scored for Kandy (25-13).

Bandaranaike who hardly got a touch of the ball into the first half, now blossomed forth. His long pass was eagerly seized on by Hettiarachchi to make it 30-13. Lock Sithara Fernando pulled one back for the Army and Silva converted to make the score 30-20. Silva's penalty made the score-line a little close (30-23).

Army were on the attack in the Kandy 25 when Bandaranaike intercepted and kicked ahead. Together with Pushpakumara they nabbed the Army defender in possession and the former grabbed the ball to squeeze through. Weerakkody put it over this time.
Full back Silva gave his counterpart a kicking lesson by putting over everry offering. Centre Shimaga was brilliant in defence and attack. Referee Shamrath Fernando - Aubrey Kuruppu

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