The Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club opened their season in a winning note, when they defeated Sri Lanka Air Force by 29-3; in a Caltex inter-club league tournament first round game played at Longden Place yesterday. The winners collected their points from two goals and three tries to their opponents’ solitary penalty. At ‘lemons’CR led 17-3.
In a nutshell CR forwards were outstanding with their power play with Anuruddha Darmathilake, Pavithra Fernando, Danushka Perera, Diran Warnakulasuriya and Dushan Lewke excelling. The CR back division failed to live upto expectations as many of their moves were thwarted by their opposite numbers. But Niroshan Karunanayake, Nishan de Silva and Mohammed Sheriff had an outstanding game.
The Airmen on the other hand had to blame themselves for not capitalising on opportunities given. Their forwards though they lacked in weight, had a fare share in set pieces. They excelled in spoiling work. Their back division could not deliver any ‘surprises’ as they were nailed down by their opponents on many occasions.
CR drew first blood when wing three-quarter Nishan de Silva went over after a second phase move. De Silva playing his first club rugby game displayed a clean pair of heels. Fly half Dev Anand failed with the conversion. But the Airmen hit back to reduce the lead, with a 30-meter penalty by their fly half Chanaka Chandimal. Then CR struck back from a 10-meter line out from the Air force touch line. Anand dummied and gave an inside pass to center Karunanayake, who went over, taking the Air Force defence by surprise. Anand converted to make it 12-3. CR again scored when flanker Pavithra Fernando barged over for an unconverted try. Anand missed an easy 20-meter penalty before the short whistle.
In the second half Airmen performed well to contain their opponents. But CR forwards dominated again when Lewke, replacing Warnakulasuriya, scored from a maul. Sheriff taking the kicking duties failed with the conversion. During last stages of the game, center Karunanayake ran through several defenders unopposed to score under the post. Sheriff converted.
Air Force prop Saumya Silva was given a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
The game was controlled by Priyantha Gunarathna.
