CH survive ‘yellow card drama’ to beat Police 18-12

by A Special Sports Correspondent

CH & FC survived giving away four yellow cards in their Division 1 Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament match against Police SC before pulling off a close 18-12 win at Race Course on Sunday (January 14).

This win was crucial for ‘Gymkhana’ Club because it is contesting to finish among the top four teams and play in the Cup Competition; which will have slots only for the top four teams in the points table. CH earned its points through three tries and one conversion; with all of the team’s points coming in the first half. CH’s first two yellow cards came in the 31st and 32nd minutes of play and Police capitalized on the 13-man advantage by earning a try through Hirantha Perera. CH had first half tries coming from Gihan Madusanka, Mohamed Absal and the third try coming off a forwards rush. CH’s Hirusha Nethmina slotted in a penalty in the first half to ensure his team led 18-7 at half time.

Police have only to blame themselves because they couldn’t make advantage of CH’s two other yellow cards which came in the 64th and 69th minutes of the second half. Police’s final try in the second half came before that ‘yellow card drama’ through the efforts of Mithun Hapugoda.

On Saturday CR & FC did pretty well to beat archrivals Havelocks SC by 25 points to 10 and clinch the Matthysz Trophy in their Division 1 Inter-Club league rugby tournament match played at Longden Place in front of an appreciative crowd.

The winners had to fight tooth and nail in the second half before restoring control of the game with a barrage of tries. CR produced four handsome tries in the second half through the efforts of Gemunu Chethiya, Manilka Ruberu, Kushan Indunil and Venura Kodagoda to make amends for their unsuccessful first half performance. Havelocks SC led 7-3 at half time through the efforts of a try coming from Udara Lakshan and the conversion coming right off the boot of Samuel Maduwantha.

CR’s marauding forwards were a bit too hot for the visiting Park Club side who simply outplayed their opponents using power and pace. It was heartening to see last season’s schoolboy rugby player Indunil jelling well with his experienced club mates and scoring a wonderful try. The last try by CR came through a forwards’ rush and hooker Kodagoda ( also a schoolboy prodigy from last season) found his way over the try line. Havelocks could manage just a penalty in the second half during which period they were forced to defend most of the time. The second penalty for Havies in the game came through Janith Chandimal; which was in the second half.

At Welisara, also on Saturday, Kandy SC made easy work of Navy SC before pulling off a comfortable 48 points to 7 win.

This result perhaps asks the question whether teams belonging to the forces can sustain the momentum they produce in the first half? Navy were in the game in the first session of play and restricted Kandy to three tries and earned one themselves. Kandy were slightly ahead of them (17-7) when the referee blew for half time. Navy’s first try in the game came off the efforts of Amith Madusanka while the conversion was well taken by Isuru Kongahawatte.

Kandy continued to gallop ahead of Navy in the second half after Lavanga Perera, Lasitha Attanagoda and Dhanushka Ranjan exploded in the first half with memorable touch downs. The second half tries for the winners came through Heshan de Silva, Heshan Jansen, Tharinda Ratwatte and K. Perera. The kicks at goal for Kandy were taken by Tharinda who chipped in with five conversions.

On Friday (January 12) Air Force did well to beat Army 17-14 at Ratmalana in a game that went to the wire. The winners collected their points through two tries, two conversions and a penalty while the losers responded with two converted tries.