Havelocks produced a fiery brand of rugby to overwhelm arch rivals CR & FC by 30 points (4 tries, 2 conversions, 2 penalties) to 22 (a penalty try, 2 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty) in their Dialog Rugby League encounter played under lights at Havelock Park yesterday.
The game began with Havelocks making their intentions clear with fierce running and low tackling that stopped the Red Shirts on their track time and again. The CR players could not dominate through their burly forwards as they have done before.
Even their skipper Omalka Gunaratne was brought down through low tackles that prevented him from gaining ground.
Havelocks started scoring in the seventh minute when they were awarded a penalty and Sandesh Jayawickrema found the target from 30 metres out.
CR came back when centre Janidu Dilshan capitalized on a poor pass to go through for a try in the 12th minute. The reliable place kicker Rizah Mubarak failed to convert from an angle.
Havelocks continued to play fierce rugby and adapted to the run and pass game and used their rolling maul, off a line out to score a try. This is typical pattern of coaching by Sanath Martis who is well known to the team that is under him. Umesh Madhushanka had the ball under his arm when he went over. Sandesh Jayawickrema kicked right to add the extra points.
CR came back and in the 32nd minute they won a line out and on using the rolling maul was denied the try through some unwarranted play seen by referee Jonathan Markovitz who awarded a penalty try. With that CR took the lead again, 12-10.
Once again Havelocks scored another try two minutes later. They won a line out and using the rolling maul had Sven Muller fall over with the ball for an unconverted try. Havelocks led 15-12 at half time.
CR found the equalizer just three minutes after the turn around when Mubarak put over a penalty for a high tackle, 15-all.
Havelocks did not let their numerous fans down and maintained a fast and fierce brand of rugby to thrill the crowd. They went ahead when a tireless Shawkit Lahir put the finishing touches to a sequence of moves.
Sandesh Jayawickrema put over the conversion to lead again 22-15. Havelocks scored two more tries through Shawkit Lahir who went over off a rolling maul and Sandesh Jayawickrema put over a penalty to move their score to 30 points.
With the minutes ticking by CR obtained a good try when they ran the ball among their backs and winger Gemunu Chethiya went over the line. Rizah Mubarak converted to take their total to 22 points.
Though the game continued with either side threatening to score no side succeeded.