Police brought an end to their winless run beating fellow strugglers CH & FC at Race course 45-26 in week six of the Dialog Rugby League.
Police was without center Mushin Faleel who sustained an injury in the previous game while Rajitha Sansony made the switch from fullback to flyhalf in the absence of Sandesh Jayawickrama.
Meanwhile CH & FC made surprising changes that saw previous week’s standout man Vishva Deneth drop to the bench and Rohitha Rajapaksa make the switch from flanker to flyhalf, while Janith Chandimal was totally out of the match day squad due to injury.
Makeshift flyhalf Rohitha Rajapaksa kicked the game off on an overcast evening at the Race Course international stadium.
It took Police just three minutes to make the breakthrough as Udara Gayan bashed his way through the fragile CH & FC defence to score the opener in the third minute of the game. Rajitha Sansony made no mistake with the conversion. (CH 00-07 Police)
The cops took things into their own hands making a second breakthrough as the lads from Maitland Crescent took time to find their feet. CH made a sloppy return kick which saw Mohamed Abzal make a trade mark break and set up fullback Sansony to score a converted try. (CH 00-14 Police)
Photos: CH&FC v Police SC – Dialog Rugby League 2016/17 | #Match 21
Photos of the CH&FC v Police SC – Dialog Rugby League 2016/17 | #Match 21
Ravindra Soysa made a sensational break down the far right wing for the home team but unfortunately failed to finish as the host squandered the opportunity.
Visitors Police capitalized on that missed opportunity by the hosts and added salt to their wounds by extending their lead further through winger Iroshan Silva. Another bad clearance kick was the beginning of the downfall of the hosts. Police stretched the CH defence as the hosts were caught out wide as winger Silva dived over in the near corner. Sansony failed with the touch line conversion. (CH 00-19 Police)
Promising youngster, Reeza Rafaideen was the next to get his name on the scorecard for Police. Good pressure, continuity and patience saw Rafaideen dot down under the post with minutes to half time. Sansony added the extras. (CH 00-25 Police)
The Cops defence held firm seeing through to half time without conceding a single point.
Half time: CH & FC 00 – Police 26 (4T, 3C)
The second half saw 7 tries for both sides as both teams yielded points with tiredness catching up.
Big man, Charles Praveen, playing at second row found his way through the CH defence as the lads from Maitland Crescent lost their way. Sansony made no mistake from under the post. (CH 00-33 Police)
The hosts finally found some luck in a side to side game as no.8 Udara Madushanka found his way to the try line. Substitute Vishva Deneth came on to convert with ease from under the post. (CH 07-33 Police)
Replacement winger Prewodh Lahiru stepped his way down the near touch line to set up second row Lakshan Jayapala for a second try in quick succession for CH as Achala Perera of Police saw yellow for indiscipline. Deneth continued his form with the boot with another good kick. (CH 14-33 Police)
Few minutes later the hosts made it three in a row to make a mini comeback as Viraj Hewage’s sublime 30 meter run setup ever present flanker Kasun Srinath beside the post. Deneth added the extras with ease. (CH 21-33 Police)
Back to back tries from Reeza Rafaideen and Sujan Kodithuwakku put the game to bed for the visitors as Police ran away with the game. (CH 21-45 Police)
CH bagged a consolation try through Prabath Jayalath as the centre weaved his way through on the stroke of full time. (CH 26-45 Police)
Full time: CH & FC 26 (4T, 3C) lose to Police 45 (7T, 5C)
ThePapare.com Player of the match: Radeesha Senevirathna (Police)
Police captain Udara Sooriyapperuma expressed his views following their first win.
“Our team looks set after the CR game and i hope this carries forward through to the end of the season. We hope to reduce mistake and playing in the opposition half in the future games”
Additionally when questioned about how the team would line-up in the future games he mentioned “we have a couple of players who will return for the second round. We are very happy that Reeza (Rafaideen) returned after being out for three game and few players will return after the junior national tour as well.
Score Breakdown
CH & FC
Tries: Udara Madushanka, Lakshan Jayapala, Kasun Srinath, Prabath Jayalath
Conversions: Vishva Deneth 3
Police SC
Tries: Udara Gayan, Rajitha Sansony, Iroshan Silva, Reeza Rafaideen 2, Charles Praveen, Sujan Kodithuwakku
Conversions: Rajitha Sansony 5
