CH mark grand return, stun Red Shirts in cliffhanger
CH&FC shocked CR&FC with a last-gasp penalty to seal a dramatic 34-32 win, causing the first major shakeup of the SLR-Maliban Club Rugby League season at Longden Place yesterday. In a match that swung violently until the final whistle, the visitors held their nerves under huge pressure, with fullback Janith Chandimal’s calm and accurate place-kicking proving the decisive factor in a two-point victory after his side led 22-17 at halftime.
In numbers, CH&FC scored three tries, two conversions and five penalties for their 34 points, while the heart-broken Red Shirts responded with five tries, two conversions and a penalty to finish on 32. Chandimal alone contributed 19 points with the boot, and that accuracy made the difference on a tense evening in CH’s dramatic victory.
CH&FC scrumhalf Maliksha Perera makes a canny breakthrough to score unopposed against CR&FC -Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
CH drew first blood when Chandimal slotted a 10th-minute penalty for a 3-0 lead. Sustained pressure followed, and from a powerful scrum close to the line, No.8 Christian de Lille dived over in the 14th minute. The conversion was missed, but the visitors moved ahead 8-0.
CR responded through forward power. From a driving maul, No.8 Omalka Gunaratne crashed over in the 19th minute. Flyhalf Dinesh de Silva missed the conversion, yet the home side closed in at 5-8. Gunaratne struck again just three minutes later, breaking off the back of another maul to score his second try. The conversion was missed once more, but CR edged ahead 10-8.
Momentum swung again when CH scrumhalf Maliksha Perera showed sharp footwork, sniping around the posts to score. Chandimal added the extras as the visitors regained the lead at 15-10. CH pressed harder, and Fijian centre Turuva Serupepilli cut through the right flank, beating several tackles to score near the posts. Chandimal converted, pushing CH ahead 22-10 in the 34th minute.
CR struck back before the break when winger Pasindu Bandara finished well in the left corner after neat handling from Vishenka Silva and Thenuka Nanayakkara. Nanayakkara landed an excellent conversion, reducing the gap to 17-22 at halftime.
The Red Shirts came out firing after the resumption. Relentless forward carries and wide pressure paid off when Bandara crossed again in the left corner to level the scores at 22-all. Chandimal then restored CH’s lead with penalties in the 55th, 60th and 63rd minutes, stretching the score to 31-22 and testing CR’s resolve.
CR refused to surrender. Lock Naveen Marasinghe powered over for a crucial try, and Nanayakkara converted to make it 29-31. In the 74th minute, Nanayakkara calmly slotted a penalty, handing CR a narrow 32-31 lead and sending the match into a nerve-shredding finish.
With two minutes left, CH were awarded a penalty on the edge of range. Chandimal struck it sweetly, the ball curling over as play was sent to the TMO. The kick was confirmed, and CH reclaimed the lead at 34-32. They held firm in the dying seconds to seal a famous, morale-boosting victory.