With conditions underfoot being heavy CR & FC played a better controlled game to edge past Police SC by 17 points (2 tries, 2 conversions, a penalty) to 13 (2 tries, a penalty) in their Dialog Rugby League match played at Longdon Place yesterday.
Rain prevailed throughout the game and the ground was waterlogged in some places that made smooth running difficult. This was to the disadvantage to the Policemen who could not use their three-quarters to good effect despite a foreign player in Wunivosa who could have been dangerous with possession.
However, he was not selfish and passed the ball when confronted by the stubborn CR defence.
It was Police SC who scored first when Janith Chandimal made no mistake with a 35 metre penalty.
CR then created the opportunity to score when in the 22nd minute they spotted some vacant space and centre Janidu Dilshan was sent over off a three-quarter move.
Rizah Mubarak had an easy conversion and CR took the lead 7-3. That was all the scoring in the first half.
Six minutes after the turn around Police made use of the opportunity to score.
They won a line out and used the rolling maul to send Rasith Silva over the line.
Janith Chandimal failed to convert and Police took the lead 8-7.
CR then got back the lead when Mubarak put over a penalty in front of the post, 10-8.
CR increased on the lead when they took a quick short tap and Gamunu Chetiya received a pass from Dilshan with an open field and sped over 40 metres to go under the posts. Mubarak had no difficulty with the conversion to lead 17-8.
With the clock nearing the close, Police made use of their forwards to take play into CR territory. They took a quick short tap and Wunivosa sent Sujan Kodithuwakku for a good try.
Police did not take the conversion but play concluded midfield.
Priyantha Gunaratne refereed.