Army forge ahead in ding-dong battle

Army knocked the wits off the much fancied CR and FC outfit in their own backyard in the last quarter and pulled off a close 21 points ( 1 goal 1 try 3 penalties ) to 18 ( 1 goal 1 try 2 penalties ) win in their Dialog sponsored ' A' Division inter club league second round game at Longden Place yesterday.

CR & FC who came into this tournament with all guns blazing can now kiss their chances of even remaining in the top three good bye as their performance today was way below par in comparison to their very own capabilities. The ' Red Shirts' who should have pulled off a convincing win rather caved in meekly after leading at the half way mark and also with victory in sight with barely ten minutes to go.

The first half saw the game swing to and from where CR and FC for some reason managed to hang on to a slender lead by 15 points to 13.

Army opened scoring through the boot of Gayan Salinda when he put over a penalty for his side to take a 3 nil lead. CR soon scored an unconverted try through Shane Samadeperuma before Nalin Kumara who fluffed the conversion put over a penalty to give CR a 8/3 lead.

Army then somewhat got their act together when Gayan Salinda sailed a penalty over minutes before speedy winger Kavindu Perera touched down for an unconverted try. Army 13/ 8. CR then took a slender 15/ 13 lead before referee Dinka Peiris blew for lemons when the combination of expat center Billy Rophia who scored a try for Kumara to add the extra points.

The game picked up in momentum in the second half but to a large extent both sides opted to kick the ball rather than working their three quarters. Spilled ball and seemingly basic errors took the gloss off a game that was billed to be one of some excitement.

With ten minutes to go CR had nudged slightly ahead into the lead when Kumara booted a penalty over to give his side a 18/ 13 lead.

Thereafter all the scoring was done by the "Soldiers" who first reduced the deficit to within striking distance when Salinda put over a penalty. CR was still leading 18/16. With the clock ticking away and with ten minutes of play left Army's forwards pressed home the advantage to score their match winning try when Prop Forward Mohamed Akram fell over to give his side a 21/ 18 lead which they grimly held on thereafter.

CR won the first round game 21/18 after Army lead 15 nil at the half way stage at Race Course.