LONGDEN PLACE, Colombo, Saturday, January 17 (ePRESS) – League front-runners CR and FC played like a well-oiled machine as they brushed aside Air Force Sports Club 38–5 in their Maliban Trophy SLR Inter‑club A Division League Rugby Tournament clash at the Home of Rugby, Longden Place, under floodlights. The Red Shirts led 19–5 at half-time and never took their foot off the pedal, signing off the first round in style.
CR and FC mixed muscle with method, keeping errors to a minimum and sticking to a clear game plan. They now sit pretty at the top with 42 points, opening daylight over defending champions Kandy SC on 29. It was a night where the hosts played the percentages, won the collisions and turned pressure into points.
The home side hit the ground running. Winger Chemod Muthunayake struck first in the eighth minute, finishing smartly for a 7–0 lead after acting captain and fly half Mursheed Doray added the extras. Air Force were soon on the back foot as CR and FC drove a powerful maul, with No. 8 Saufa Billivanua diving over in the 19th minute. Doray’s conversion pushed the score to 14–0 and the Red Shirts were firmly in the driving seat.
A brief wobble followed when prop Januth Ratnayake was sent to the naughty chair, and Air Force took advantage through hooker Shamika Kaushan, who crossed to make it 14–5. But CR and FC quickly steadied the ship. Just before the break, burly flanker Omalka Gunaratne powered over on the left, giving the hosts a 19–5 cushion at half-time.
After the restart, it was one-way traffic. Air Force’s defence cracked as CR and FC crossed for their bonus-point try in the 48th minute, Billivanua touching down under the posts after another strong surge. Doray kept his kicking radar sharp for 26–5.
The Red Shirts kept rolling. Winger Vishenka Silva finished in the corner in the 55th minute for an unconverted try, stretching the lead to 31–5. The final word came late on when second rower Naveen Marasinghe capped a slick move sparked by Doray and Pasindu Bandara, crashing over in the 74th minute. Doray again landed the conversion to make it 38–5.
At the final whistle, CR and FC had laid down a marker. They dominated territory, won the set piece battle and showed depth across the park. In short, they played heads-up rugby, left nothing to chance and marched off with a convincing win that underlined their title credentials. (Picture courtesy: Papare.com)
Referee: Kelum Sandaruwan
