CH in easy win over Navy

CH&FC raked up an easy win, with bonus points, in their 34-14 win against Navy SC in a third week encounter of the SLR Nippon Club Rugby League played at Welisara yesterday.

CH registered their second win of the season, after having performed exceptionally well in the first half to lead by 22-7 and completing the game with a tally of five tries, three conversions and a penalty. The Sailors, on the other hand, will only have themselves to blame, as they managed to barge through to score two converted tries, which came in each half.

CH took an early lead through a collective driving maul in the 12th minute of the game, to which lock Pulasthi Dasanayake completed, to have his team in front 5-0, after a filed conversion. Lock Nirosh Perera completed another collective effort by CH as his brilliant try was converted by fullback Hirusha Nethmina to further expand the lead to 12-0.

However, the Sailors found themselves in luck at a few occasions, and on one such breakaway move in the 27th minute, prop Stephen Gregory breached the CH defence to brace a try. With flyhalf Isuru Kongahawatte’s brilliant conversion, which came from a difficult angle, Navy indicated they are in the game while trailing by 7-12.

CH were clinical in their defence, as well as attack, as No.8 Janith Laksara broke the Navy shackles to score in the 33rd minute. With Nethmina’s conversion, followed by a penalty that came on the brink of halftime CH gained a healthy lead of 22-7.

The game moved on with both teams applying a defensive mode after the turnaround. But both sides managed to score following each 10 minute, contributed by their opponent’s mishap. Prop Prasath Madushanka scored identical tries for CH, in the 57th and 77th minutes, with the earlier being converted by Nethmina. Navy scored an equally similar try in the 67th minute through their lock Denuwan Wickramaarachchi, followed by a successful conversion from Kongahawatte, as Navy suffered their third straight defeat.