CR’s Lasindu dazzles as ‘Red Shirts’ thump CH 32-12

By Special Sports Correspondent

Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (CR&FC) burst Colombo Hockey & Football Club’s (CH&FC) defence into pieces in the second half of their ‘Cup Championship’ encounter of the Inter-Club league rugby tournament before romping home easy winners with a score of 32 points against 12 at Race Course last evening (Sunday).

The man who made the difference in this game for the Red Shirts was number eight Lasindu Karunathilake who scored a hat trick of tries for the winners. He was in cracking form playing in the third row and produced two of his tries in the second half as CR piled on the points with a total of four tries, three conversions and two penalties. The host team responded with two tries and a conversion. CR led 14-5 at half time. CR won the bonus point in his match by virtue of scoring four tries and also secured the top spot in the points table in week nine of the tournament. CR remains the only unbeaten side in the league rugby tournament with Kandy SC in second place followed by CH&FC in third place.

CR really unsettled their opponents in the second half, but before that CH&FC stood up in attack and defense in the first half making the visiting Red Shirts sweat for their points. CR earned two early tries in the first half through Imanka Ariyapala and Karunathilake to lead 14-0 at one stage of the game, CH quickly hit back with a try by hooker Prasath Madusanka.

The kicking duties for CR was shared by Manilka Ruberu, Chathura Senewiratne while CH’s kicks at goal were taken by Manishka Perera. Regular kicker Hirusha Nethmina had to leave the field early due to an ankle injury.

Kandy Sports Club struggled to beat Havelock Sports Club 19-15 in their ‘Cup’ segment match in the Division 1 league rugby tournament match played at Havelock Park on Saturday (February 10).

The winners had to fight back from being scoreless in the first half to eventually win with three tries and two conversions against two tries, a conversion and a penalty by the host team. Havelocks led 3-0 at half time thanks to a well taken penalty by Janith Chandimal.

Kandy opened up in the second half with tries coming from Suranga Tennakoon, Lavanga Perera and Shanushka Abeywickreme. The conversions for Kandy were taken by Tharinda Ratwatte.

Havelocks played well and earned their tries through Janith Chandimal and Oliver Buckle.

In the Plate segment of the tournament Police SC did well to emerge as overall winners. Their last win in the tournament came against Army whom they beat 42-37. In the other match of the Plate Championship Air Force Sports Club beat Navy SC 41-14.This is the 9th week of the tournament which is conducted by Sri Lanka Rugby and sponsored by Nippon Paint.