• CR keeps pace with defending champs

Playmaker Mursheed Doray masterminded a superb display from the outside backs while the bench added much-needed impetus, as CR and FC recorded an impressive 26-16 win over CH and FC, in their Maliban Inter-Club League Rugby Cup segment super-round clash at Racecourse Grounds, Colombo last evening.

Doray playing in his now accustomed first five eighth role scored a 25th minute try using his brute power to brush off at least four defenders, and then set up replacement back Chathura Seneviratne’s match-defining 49th minute score to deflate the home side.

CR threes comprising outside centre Thenuka Nanayakkara and wings Dimuth Perera and Chemod Muthunayake combined expertly with the halves’ combination of Harsha Maduranga and Doray, to punch gaping holes in the CH defence.

The reds bench consisting of Omalka Gunarathna, overseas recruit Saula Bilivanua, Viduna Amaneth and Seneviratne, also made a sizable impact to ram home the advantage with starting prop Senura Perera also being a stand out being adjudged player-of-the-match.

The team from Longden Place thus atoned for their first-round 34-32 loss to their traditional rivals at Longden Place in December last year. 

CH and FC with unforced errors creeping into their game were forced to play catch up on the day, and their ill discipline proved costly with the visitors putting the game to bed 10 minutes from full time via a penalty try awarded by Japanese referee Meitetsu Shimzu.

CH substitute backrower Fijian Mathew Setele illegally brought down a driving maul of CR preventing replacement loose forward Omalka Gunaratne from scoring, and the gifted penalty try sealed the hosts fate.

The visitors scored from two converted tries, a try and a penalty try for the crucial bonus-point triumph, while the home team could only conjure two tries and two penalties, while being outplayed for large swathes of the game.

For the reds who led 14-8 at the break, right wing Muthunayake, fly half Doray and substitute back Seneviratne dotted down, respectively while their score was further swelled by the penalty try, with centre Nanayakkara nailing the conversions to their two first half five-pointers.

For the men from Maitland Crescent, hooker Pulasthi Dassanayake and replacement loose forward Fijian Setele, respectively crossed the CR whitewash, while full back Janith Chandimal slotted a penalty in either half.

With this rousing victory Lasindu Karunathileke’s team strengthened their position in second place in the points table keeping pace with table-leaders Kandy SC.

Their final super-round fixture on coming Saturday (14) under floodlights at home with the title-holders, will be a dress rehearsal for the grand finale of the Cup segment in the following week.