CH and FC registered a thrilling bonus-point win in the Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Championship 2022, by overcoming fighting Police Sports Club by 25 (4 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty) to 22 (3 tries, 2 conversions, 1 penalty) win at the Race Course grounds in Colombo yesterday. At halftime, the scores were deadlock at 5 all.
CH, who had a great game, gave an excellent display in attack in today’s game. Even after the turnaround the CH and FC played in the same manner as during the first half to keep the Police at bay.
CH and FC opened the scoring when full-back Avishka Lee scored a try in the 22nd minute of the game, the conversion was missed by fly-half Rohitha Rajapaksa, and CH went into a 5-0 lead.
Police replacement player Adisha Handunpathirana ran all the way to brace a try in the 39th minute which was failed to convert by fly-half Yohan Peiris to equal the score to 5all and both teams went into halftime.
In the 42nd minute of the game, Police increased their score to 8-5 when fly-half Peiris slotted in a penalty.
Soon at the 45th minute CH winger Hirusha Sampath made the equalizer (8-8) when he fired across a penalty.
Police went into a 15-8 lead at the 52nd minute of the game when prop forward Hashan Fernando scored a try, which was converted by Peiris.
The CH and FC closed the gap to 15-13 when their hooker Prasath Madusanka barged over for a try which Sampath could not convert.
In the 67th minute of the game, Madusanka scored his second try of the match to grab the lead for CH, when Rohitha Rajapaksa made a splendid conversion. The score read 20-15 in favour of CH and FC.
CH flanker Shehan Dias scored the bonus point unconverted try in the 71st minute to increase their lead to 25-15.
In the 79th minute of the game, Police second-row forward Mohan Wimalaratne scored a consolation try which was converted by Peiris.
Finally, the gallant CH and FC crowned the worthy winners by 25 points to 22 in the end.
Referee- Ishanka Abayakoon had an excellent game with the whistle.
