Army on rampage, thrash CH&FC
Army SC went on rampage to thrash CH&FC by a record 60-12 and secure the overall third position of the Plate Segment of the SLR Nippon Paint Club Rugby League 2023 in their closing encounter played at Panagoda yesterday.
Leading the halftime by 24-7, the Soldiers overpowered CH to score nine tries, the most scored by a team in the ongoing season, six conversions and a penalty, to script a memorable end with bonus points to their final tally. CH scored from two tries, each coming during respective halves, and managed to convert one of them, as they ended bottom seed this season.
Army made a mockery at the start, losing Chamath Fernando for a yellow card offence in the third minute, but they regrouped to open scoring in the 13th minute through flyhalf Ashan Bandara. Five minutes later CH showed off their intentions with a try from flanker Udara Jayapala, and with the conversion from winger Nethmina Hirusha, they led 7-3.
But it was all CH could do in the remainder of the first half as lock Nilan Premaratne touched down two minutes later and with a couple of more tries from centre Lasantha Kumara in the 25th and 35th minutes, Army gained an unassailable lead. Chamath Fernando converted all three tries to have Army in a commanding position of 24-7 at halftime.
Flyhalf Bandara was quick enough to touchdown soon after the turnaround for Army, who expanded the lead to 29-7 but they were cut down to 14 men in the 45th
minute when lock Nalaka Maduranga was shown a yellow card. CH took this opening to breach the Army defence in the 49th minute when flanker Jayapala touched down for his second try, which went unconverted.
And that was the end of CH’s action towards the remainder of the game as the Soldiers went on to add five more tries despite losing two of their men – winger Manoj Kumara and flanker
Kaveen Perera – midway.
Flyhalf Bandara scored his second try in the 51st minute, followed by tries from forward Kavindu Amarasiri (61), Mohamed Rifan (70, winger Manoj Kumara (73) and No.8 Dhanuka Wijethilake (77). Fernando managed to convert three of the tries as Army ended their league campaign in a high note competing in the Plate Segment, which was secured by Air Force on Friday.