Police through

Monday, 18 March 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Clifford Cup Knock-Out Rugby 2019

CR vs Police Clifford Cup quarter-final encounter played at Racecourse grounds – Pix by Chamila Karunarathne

Police SC 28 points
CR & FC 15 points

Police SC pulled off a magnificent 28/15 win over the favourite CR & FC at Racecourse in one of the quarter-final encounters of the Clifford Cup Knock-Out Rugby Encounter.

At the short breather, the winners led 20/5.

Cops drew first blood in the 12th minute of the game when Irsohan Silva broke through for a try. Janith Chandimal added the extras. A few minutes later, Chandimal took Police further ahead through an easy penalty kick. The next try was scored by Pavithra with Chandimal added the extras plus had time for one more penalty to take the short breather at 20 points. Reza Rafaideen was in lightning speed to touch down for the Red Shirts.

After the turnaround, the Red Shirts hit back through a Supun Warunakulasuriya try. Omalka Gunaratne had the power to go over for a CR try but the Cops hit back sooner than later through Suranga Kasun. Chandimal added one more penalty to book their semi-final berth against Air Force on 19 March at the same venue.

Army shock CH

Army SC 32 points
CH & FC 22 points

Army SC pulled off a shocking 32/22 win over CH & FC to book their semi-final berth. Both teams played majority of their games at Racecourse with the CH & FC scoring first through burly Sathya Ranathunga. Chathura Dilshan try and Samuel Maduwantha conversion took the CH in to a 12 to nothing lead.

Danushka Thalwatte scored the try of the match intercepting and running more than 60 meters. Medagedera added the extra two points to cut the deficit to 7/12 favouring CH. Former Peterite Anuradha Herath was a difficult customer to keep quite as he scored his first try of the game. Sameera Bulathsinhala’s try took the Solders closer at 12/17 with a five-point difference.

After the turnaround, Army scored first through lightning fast Ashan Bandara which took the scores equal at 17 a-piece. Sajith Saranga scored the next try of the match. Madura Bandara’s try once again equalled the score this time at 22 a-piece. Ashan Bandara scored his second try and second half man Gayan Salinda was on target not only with his conversions but also with a penalty.