CH outclass Air Force

Commanders Cup Rugby 2021

By Shamseer Jaleel

CH & FC 29 points

Sri Lanka Air Force 11 points

CH & FC outplayed Sri Lanka Air Force by 29 points (5 tries, 2 conversions) to 11 points (1 try, 1 penalty, 1 drop goal) win in their second leg of the Commanders Cup Rugby 2021 encounter played at Ratmalana yesterday.

At the short breather CH led 24/11.

The game never got the much expected high standards. Both teams played lacklustre rugby with the Sri Lanka Air Force outfit being a pathetic lot. They played aimlessly with poor leadership and decision-making qualities. 

In fact, in the later half almost 35 minutes they were attacking in CH goal area but lacked the finishing touches. They could not convert territory in to points. CH looked a better side with yard faster in the early half. They had a good first half scoring 4 tries. In the later half they just ended defending the home team’s onslaught. They were saved due to number of handling errors and poor throwing by Sri Lanka Air Force hooker.

For CH & FC their skipper Sudahrshana Muthuthanthri, Prasad Madushanka and Avishka Lee played their hearts out while for the home team, Charith Seenviratne who replaced Gayantha Iddamalgoda and skipper Nuwan Perera played well.

CH drew first blood through an intercepted try by Sudarshana Muthuthanthri. Thenuka Nanayakkara added the extra 2 points to take an early 7/0 lead. Five minutes later Charith Seneviratne was on target with a 30meter penalty kick. A few minutes later burly CH prop, Prasad Madushanka scored through a forward’s rush. 

CH who cut loose score their next two tries through Avishka Lee and Omalka Gunaratne. One of them was converted by Thenuka Nannayakkara. Air Force started scoring their first try through a high kick which was chased by Ramesh Ramdas who touched down. 

Charith Seneviratne failed to add the extra 2 points. On stroke of half time Air Force had a golden opportunity to score but due to some poor decision making by them when they had a deficit of 13 points opting for penalty and missing same.

After the turn around the home team got number of opportunities but they lacked the finish touches with handling errors one after another. Almost the entire second half they were in CH territory but could not score a single point. CH scored their only try early in the second half by Avishka Lee. Thenuka Nanayakkara who had a poor kicking game compared to the first leg missed the conversion kick.

CH & FC took home the Commander Cup 2021 with an aggregate of 52 points to Sri Lanka Air Force score of 32. CH & FC was coached by Rajiv Perera while Sri Lanka Air Force was coached by Shamly Nawas.

Referee Dilum Deeshana

Assistant Referees Chamara Siyambalapitiya and Pradeep Indika