Discipline and Training Pays Off

“CR get down to business” screamed the headlines in the sports page of a Sunday newspaper, Indeed it was at Longden place last Saturday. CR displayed a superb brand of open rugby and served a warning to the other clubs. The red shirts thrashed CH and FC by 44 points (five goals, two penalties and one drop goal) to 8 (one try and one penalty) in their Caltex Segment ‘A’ Division One rugby league match played at Longden Place on the 31st of May 2008.

From the first whistle the red shirts launched an onslaught. CH was made to pay for mistakes. CH continued to be indecisive under high kicks and missed tackles allowing the red shirts to continue their onslaught. The experienced Pavithra Fernando and Dushanth Lewke were outstanding in defense for the red shirts. These two along with last years skipper Dharmathileke won numerous line outs and scrums for the red shirts and the back division made use of good ball. The back division of CR was served good ball by the forwards at every given opportunity by recycling the ball at will. A feature of the CR performance was the ball handling skills, they made very few unforced errors during the game and it was one of the most polished performances I have seen after long time by the red shirts although the same could not be said about Rankothge the referee. He was blind as a bat and as deaf as a door post. His whistle blowing left much to be desired and was quick to sin bin the CR captain Mohamed for a first offence and was seen warning the CR players on more than one occasion without taking any action.

CH looked a beaten side when they went in for the lemons down by 22-3. The CH players played the man more than the ball and this indiscipline cost them dearly. CR players were cool under pressure and showed good character and six minutes into the second half Lewke scored his 2nd try of the match. It was not only the CR forwards who impressed, the back division too had a good with Full Back Sheriff and Nishan De Silva having and outstanding game. Dev Anandh was impressive with his deep kicks to touch and also converting as many as 4 tries. The drop goal he executed in the first half from 35 meters out was a beauty. Have red shirts finally unearthed a match winning kicker?

CH had scored only a solitary penalty until the last 15 minutes of play and they scored a consolation try through wing three quarter Niranjan Wickramarathne, but it was a case of ‘too little too late’ for the red and white shirts from Maitland Crescent. Lewke 2, Nishan De Silva 2, Sheriff 1 were the try scorers for the red shirts while Dev Anandh converted 4 tries and kicked a drop goal. Second half replacement Senthil converted the other try for the red shirts. The red shirts meet the high riding Havelock sports club next week before the all important game against Kandy the following weekend.

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