Air Force, propelled by their captain and scrum half Nuwan Perera’s three penalties, scored a 19 points (1 try, 1 conversion, 4 penalties) to11 (1 try, 2 penalties) win over a fighting CR & FC outfit in their Dialog ‘A’ Division League rugby tournament first round match played at CR ground Longden Place yesterday,
It was Air Force forwards who paved the way for this victory as their ‘Eight’ gave a terrific display to outplay their famed counterparts in the loose.
CR were let down by their forwards and the three-quarters who delayed their passes which saw them being ‘nailed’ time and again by their opposite numbers and also ‘knocked-on’ at crucial moments which resulted in their speedy play-maker Kanchana Ramanayake being kept in cold storage but on the few occasions he got possession Kanchana made some threatening runs before he was brought down in the nick of time by a desperate Air Force defence.
The CR outfit went into half time leading 11-10 with tries coming from winger Gemunu Chethiya with scrum half and captain Kavindu Costa slotting in both the penalties.
For the Air Force the solitary try was scored by second row forward Ravindu Anjula. After the breather Air Force surged into a 13-10 lead when their captain put over a penalty in the 50th minute of the game.
In the 63rd minute of play, scrum half Perera fired across another penalty to increase their lead to 16-11.
In the 70th minute of the game Air Force received another penalty and once again skipper Perera slotted in the penalty as his team ran out worthy winners by 19 points to 11.
Referee Hasantha Weranga had somewhat of a questionable day with the whistle.