CH beat Army to book their semi-final berth

CH player Chamath Kilan wins a high ball

By Shamseer Jaleel

CH and FC booked their semi-final spot  when they beat Army Sports Club by 35 points (5 tries, 1 penalty try, 1 penalty) to 27 points (4 tries, 2 conversions, 1 penalty) in their 3rd quarter final of the Clifford Cup Knockout rugby encounter, which was worked off at Longdon Place yesterday. 

Now CH will meet Havies in the second semi-final on 6 March at the Race Course ground in the second semi-final encounter.

At the short breather, CH led 15/12.

CH drew first blood in the 6th minute of the game through Chathumin Ranasinghe try. The second CH try was scored by Prasad Madushanka. Both conversions were missed by their full back, Hirusha Sampath who was recovering from an injury but yet took the field. A few minutes later Army SC hit back with their first try through Lasantha Kumara and then scored their second try 4 minutes later through Sudaraka Dikkumbura. Skipper Ashan Bandara kicked one of them accurately to take the Army outfit into a 2-point lead at 12/10.

In the 30th minute, CH went ahead through a Nirosh Perera try and the kick at goal was not successful by Rohitha Rajapakse. 

After the short breather, Army SC full back, Lahiru Rathnayake scored a brilliant try which was goaled by Ashan Bandara to take the lead 19/15. Army stretched their lead further through the skipper, Bandara penalty, but CH hit back soon afterwards through two back to back tries by Prasad Madushanka and Dinesh de Silva to take the 25/22 lead. With 10 minutes left with repeated foul play by Army saw the referee award a penalty try for CH. Hirusha Sampath penalty took CH into safety at 35/22. Army had an opportunity only for a consolation try by Janith Premayantha.

Referee was Gihan Yatawara.