Tharinda shines in CR win

Dialog Rugby League 2018/2019

By Shamseer Jaleel

CR & FC pulled off a dramatic 24-23 win over traditional rivals CH & FC at Longden Place. 

In a closely fought out encounter, CR & FC fly-half Tharinda Ratwatte was the star, creating many moves for the Longden Place club. 

In the end he put over a magnificent 60-metre penalty which took the red shirts through a tense game full of ball-handling errors from both sides.

CH scored first through a Maduwantha penalty but CR replied soon after through their Samoan player Joseph Fuimaono, who crashed over the try line. A kick at goal from a difficult angle was missed by Tharinda Ratwatte. Samuel Maduwantha, who was in peak kicking form, put over another penalty for CH to take a 6-5 lead. CH went further ahead through a try from the burly Prasad Maduwantha which Samuel converted. Then came the best move of the game when Ratwatte, who initiated a beautiful move, with the ball changing hands before ending in the possession of the former Trinity skipper, who touched down under the posts. Reza Rafaideen added the extra points. 

There was time for a try from former Thomian and national Sevens sensation Naveen Heenakankanmge, who stole the ball and ran uncontested to score under the posts.

CH took a 20-15 lead at halftime. One more penalty by Samuel and two by Tharinda took the score to 23-21. Then came the penalty of the game when Ratwatte took a penalty 60 metres out in front of the old pavilion which sailed over with enough power. The game was refereed by Priyantha Gunaratne.

Second half rally takes Havies through

Havelock Sports Club, after losing many of their senior players, put up a brave effort to beat Army SC 23-12 in their first game at Havelock Park last night, with the game played under floodlights.

At halftime, the scores were tied on six points each.

Two early penalties from Reza Mubarak took Havies to safety with a six-point lead but the soldiers hit back through some fine attacking rugby in the Havies half. The soldiers fielded one Fijian in their starting line-up. Savaneca Uvalulu was threatening in attack but his ball handling was poor. Gayan Salinda’s two penalties put Army on equal terms with the park club at halftime.

After the turnaround, Salinda was accurate with his third penalty kick to give his team a 9-6 lead. Reza Mubarak, who had a grand game, played his heart out. Mithun Hapugoda, Delpachithra and Dushmantha Priyadharshana scored tries for the park club. Reza added the extras for the second try. The game was refereed by Aaqil Jamaldeen.

Kandy record unimpressive win

Kandy Sports Club kicked off their title defence when they locked horns with Sri Lanka Air Force and recorded a win in Ratmalana but not in the way they wanted. In the end Kandy won 28-19 after leading 14-7 at halftime.

Kandy SC drew first blood early in the very first minute of the game when their dashing winger Vishwamithra Jayasinghe scored their first try. Fullback Thilina Wijesinghe added the extras for an early 7-0 lead. After even exchanges over the next 25 minutes, Air Force scored their first try through Krishan with Nuwan Perera adding the extra points to equalise the score at seven apiece.

With Roshan Weeraratne coming in later in the first half, things started moving fast for Kandy. They scored their second try on the stroke of halftime. Skipper Richard Dharmapala scored their second try with Thilina Wijesinghe adding the extras to have the halftime score reading 14-7 in favour of the upcountry lads.

After the turnaround, Air Force scored through their lanky Fijian Raduwa Kausooo with Gayantha Iddamalgoda adding the extras to equalise the scores for the second time in the game but now at 14 all.

Richard Dharmapala, recovering from an injury which kept him out of the majority of the Asian Sevens 2018, scored his second try. Thilina added the extras to take 21-14 lead. A Rumesh Ramdas try closed the gap to 21-19 but Kandy hit back once again through Danushka Ranjan, who created a major move, covering nearly 45 metres before sending the ball out to Roshan Weeraratne to score the last try of their first game. Thilina was one perfectly accurate, converting his last kick at goal. The referee for the game was Dinka Peiris.

Sailors win by single point

Navy Sports Club pulled off a very close 24-23 win over the gallant Police outfit at Police Park yesterday. The sailors led 14-10 at halftime.

Navy’s national player Adeesha Weeratunge scored first with skipper Thilina Weerasinghe adding the extra two points to give his team an early lead. Uthpala Edirisinghe scored the first Police try, being well supported by their Fijian player Emosi Vunivosa. A kick at goal was missed by Sachith Silva. Wageesha Weerasinghe took Police ahead through their second try, which also went unconverted, but the Police outfit took a 10-7 lead.

Another national Sevens player from the Welisara camp, Buddima Piyaratne, produced an impressive 50-metre dash to score. Skipper Thilina Weerasinghe added the extra points to give his team a 14-10 lead heading into halftime.

Emosi worked very hard and was instrumental in the first second-half try by Weerasinghe. Police led 17-14 minutes later as Amith Prabath put over Police’s first penalty of the evening. Navy scored their next try through Richie Dharmapala with Weerasinghe adding the extra points to give his team a 23-21 lead. Skipper Weerasinghe took the game home with a 40-metre penalty to seal the game 24-23.