COLOMBO, Friday, January 2 (ePRESS) – Table leaders CR and FC laid down a strong marker when they beat traditional rivals Havelock Sports Club 33–14 in the first leg of the Matthysz Memorial Trophy, played as part of the Maliban Trophy SLR Inter-club A Division League Rugby Tournament at Longden Place. It was the season’s first under-lights match, and the packed home crowd saw the Red Shirts lead 14–7 at half-time and finish the job with authority.
CR and FC hit the ground running. In the 19th minute, centre Manilka Ruberu opened the defence with a sharp pass to Thenuka Nanayakkara, who scored under the posts and converted to make it 7–0. Four minutes later came the try of the game as fly half Mursheed Doray powered over with a strong driving run. Nanayakkara again added the extras, stretching the lead to 14–0.
Havelocks struck back through sheer forward power. Hooker Azmir Fajudeen broke away from a rolling maul to score mid-right, and Samuel Maduwantha converted to cut the gap to 14–7. CR and FC then had to dig deep when Ruberu was sin-binned just before the break, but they held firm.
After lemons, CR and FC tightened the screws. Foreign forward Enesi Waqanisau barged over four minutes into the second half, with Nanayakkara converting for a 21–7 lead. The Red Shirts controlled the tempo, winning the battle up front and playing the game in the right areas.
The bonus-point try came in the 65th minute when winger Chemod Muthunayake finished neatly down the short side. Nanayakkara’s fine kick made it 28–7. Havelocks showed late fight as No.8 Amithuannai Visesio scored a pick-and-go try, converted by Yehan Bulathsinhalage, to make it 28–14.
Despite a late red card to Shenal Adhikaram, CR and FC had the last word. Captain Lasindu Karunathilaka sealed the win with a powerful try two minutes from time, putting the final nail in the coffin for a 33–14 bonus-point victory.
