CR and FC savoured their finest moment on the rugby field in recent years, by winning the ‘A’ Division League Rugby Title after 26 years with a 33 points (one goal, four tries, two penalties) to 25 points (two goals, one try, two penalties) win over defending champoins Kandy Sports Club in the Nippon Paint Super Round League Rugby Tournament final match played at Longden Place yesteray after trailing 6-13 at half time.
CR and FC kept their unbetan record intact, and ended the season with a final tally of 58 points when compared to Kandy SC’s 48 points. CR and FC last won the ‘A’ Division League Title way back in 1998 under the captaincy of Champika Nishantha when they remained unbeaten League Champions and won the Rugby Double with a 30-26 win over Kandy SC in the President’s Trophy final.
CR and FC fullback Mursheed Doray emerged as the hero with his impeccable decision-making and mind games. The Player of the Match title was won by CR winger Gemunu Chethiya.
The game kicked off with a bit of drama as Kandy SC’s Suranga Tennakoon received a yellow card in the ninth minute, giving CR and FC’s Chathura Seneviratne the opportunity to secure an early lead with a penalty kick, making it 3-0 in the 10th minute.
However, Kandy SC quickly responded with Tharinda Ratwatte leveling the score to three-all in the 14th minute through a penalty kick. The intensity of the match increased when CR and FC’s Senura Perera had to leave the field in the 15th minute.
In the 21st minute, Kandy SC’s Lasitha Attanagoda scored the first try of the game, putting his team in the lead at 10-3 after Ratwatte added the extra points.
CR&FC Gemunu Chethiya is about to scores a try with a Kandy player making a desperate attempt to foil him. Picture by Dushmanthe Mayadunne
Despite facing setbacks with injuries to players like Thilina Bandara in the 27th minute, Kandy remained resilient. In the 30th minute, a crucial penalty allowed Kandy SC’s Ratwatte to extend their lead to 13-3.
Just before halftime, CR and FC’s Chathura Seneviratne narrowed the gap with a penalty kick, making the score 6-13 in favour of Kandy SC.
The second half started with a bang for CR and FC, as Adeesha Weeratunga capitalized on a mistake by Kandy SC’s Nigel Ratwatte in the 42nd minute, by scoring a try leveling the score at 13-all.
Kandy SC quickly regained the lead in the 43rd minute with a try by Tharinda Ratwatte, making it 18-13. However, the seesaw battle continued, with CR and FC’s Raveen de Silva scoring a brilliant try in the 53rd minute, which was unconverted and the scores tied at 18-all.
In the 60th minute, Gemunu Chethiya’s try, following a kick by full back Mursheed Doray, gave CR and FC a slender lead of 23-18. The match took a turn when Manelka Ruberu of CR and FC was sent into the sin bin in the 65th minute.
Kandy SC responded with a try by Tharinda Ratwatte in the 66th minute, who converted it to lead 25-23. The drama continued as CR and FC’s Randy Silva scored in the 70th minute, putting his team ahead 28-25, although the conversion was missed.
In the 75th minute, Kandy SC’s Charles Praveen was yellow-carded, giving CR and FC renewed hope. In the 76th minute, Lasindu Ishan Karunathikale scored his 10th try of the season, securing a thrilling victory for CR and FC. Though the conversion was missed, the home team ran out worthy winners by 33 -25
(dailynews)
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