(UTV|CH and FC Rugby) – CH and FC registered a close 26-25 win over Navy Sports Club in their second round match of the Dialog inter-club rugby championship played at Welisara yesterday.
The Maitland Place club racked up two tries, two conversion and four penalties for their second win of the season to the Navy’s three tries, two conversions and two penalties. Navy led 13-6 at the breather.
The home team started the game with a penalty off centre Isuru Kongahawaththe’s boot in the sixth minute to lead 3-0. Navy extended their lead through a try scored by Shasinka Abeyasekara which Kongahawathe converted to make it 10-0. In the 32nd minute Navy received another penalty which Kongahawaththe kicked successfully to increase the tally to 13-0.
In the 36th minute CH opened scoring through full back Hirusha Sampath who booted a 20 meter penalty kick. He followed this with another penalty kick eight minutes later to cut the lead down to 6-13 which was the score at half time.
On resumption Navy scored their second unconverted try through Adeesha Weeratunge to make it 18-6. However, the Navy defence cracked under pressure as CH scored back to back tries thorough flanker Prasath Madushanka and Matheesha Sarathchandra to move ahead for the first time in the match 20-18. Both conversions were successfully booted by Hirusha Sampath. Four minutes later CH further extended their lead through back to back penalties due to Navy faults. Sampath made no mistake with the kicks that saw CH forge ahead to 26-18.
Both teams tried hard to add to the scoreline and it was Navy who managed to break through the CH defences when Stephen Gregory touched down. Kongahawaththe booted well for Navy to come within one point of the CH score 26-25. CH held on till the final whistle despite several desperate attempts by the Navy. (DN)