Red Shirts prevail over Sailors in scrappy game
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CR's Janindu Dilshan is held by an appalling Navy defence, befoire he landed a try - Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
CR&FC prevailed over Navy SC in scrappy, yet fast Dialog Rugby League Round 1 final week match, as the hosts scraped through to snatch a close 27-24 victory at Longdon Place yesterday. Both teams scored three tries and converted all three of them, but the two penalties put over by the Red Shirts, against the solitary scored by the Sailors stood as the difference.
Both teams had their own setbacks during the first quarter, yet the game progressed with a tight scoreline. CR took the initial lead through a penalty put over by stand in skipper Reeza Raffaideen in the third minute, and five minutes later Isuru Kongahawatte equalised for Navy with both teams battling it out at 3-3.
For the next 20 minutes the game progressed without a change with both sides committing unforced errors, giving an unclear forecast of the game ahead. When the Sailors were playing on advantage, Charith Silva grabbed the opportunity to barge a flummoxed CR defence and touchdown in the 26th minute, giving Kongahawatte an easy conversion and Navy a comfortable 10-3 lead.
The breakthrough put the hosts in the back foot, as Navy thwarted all attempts made by them, but a sudden breakaway by Kalindu Nandila in the 32nd minute, who in return made a clean offload to skipper Raffaideen, who touched down under-the-post. With the skipper making the conversion, the scores were again leveled at 10-all.
Yet again the pattern of play displayed by both teams failed to elevate for the remaining eight minutes until Gayan Dilshan made a roaring breakthrough to give CR a try on the brink of the halftime. Raffaideen’s clean kick gave CR an advantage on 17-10 at halftime, and the boost to play further better in the second half.
Two minutes from the resumption, CR justified their improved style of play with centre Janindu Dilshan’s breakaway try, which covered almost half of the field. Raffaideen’s conversion put CR further in comfort with a 24-10 lead.
CR looked bolstered by their lead, but the Sailors were not yet done. Through a combined forward play, Navy forward Thanuja Malimbada touched down in the 53rd minute, and Kongahawatte converted to cut down the deficit by 17-24.
When the Sailors were well set for another retaliation, they were penalised for a high tackle and CR skipper Raffaideen grabbed the opportunity to add three more points by putting over the penalty and taking the lead further by 27-17.
During the final quarter CR was cut down to 14 men, as flanker Sharo Fernando was put on the naughty chair, and the hosts were further handicapped by losing Shehan Kelaniyagoda and Gayan Dilshan to the sin bin in quick sessions. Navy too was cut down to 14 men after Chathura Seneviratne received a yellow card, but they were stronger by one in number during the final phase.
Soon after CR’s first sin bin Navy scored through Gihan Perera in the 65th minute and Kongahawatte’s conversion brought them close to victory with the scores favouring 27-24. But the Sailors failed to capitalise, as both teams went back to square one, making unforced errors as in the start.
A neat and spectacular try scored by CR’s Muzamil Zubair was not awarded, as it was overturned with a yellow card to Kelaniyagoda in an incident before the ball changed hands. Despite luck favouring them, the Sailors failed to execute the plan and CR clinically managed the game during the final few minutes.