CH & FC through to Clifford Cup semis

Friday, 28 March 2025 00:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CH flanker Udesh Madushanka hands off an Air Force player

By Shamseer Jaleel

CH & FC secured their place in the Clifford Cup semi-finals with a commanding 22/10 victory over Sri Lanka Air Force SC at the Air Force Ground in Ratmalana last evening.

At the short breather, CH led 19/10.

CH’s attacking precision and defensive resilience ensured they maintained their dominance throughout the match, setting up a highly anticipated clash against the unbeaten League champions, Kandy SC, at the semi-finals on 1 April at Nittawela.

Air Force SC made an early impact through Pasindu Perera, who contributed all of their points. He opened the scoring with a well-executed try and successfully converted it before adding a penalty to bring their tally to 10. However, CH quickly responded, taking control of proceedings with a clinical attacking display. CH’s winger Charith Silva was the standout performer, crossing the whitewash twice to put his side ahead. Pasindu Dissanayake added another try to extend their lead. Fly-half Janith Chandimal played a pivotal role, converting two of the three tries and slotting in a crucial penalty to ensure CH held a solid advantage going into the break.

Despite Air Force’s determined efforts in the second half, they were unable to break through CH’s disciplined defence. Handling errors and missed opportunities further hampered their chances of staging a comeback. Meanwhile, CH managed the game well, maintaining their composure and keeping Air Force scoreless in the final 40 minutes.

Referee Ishanka Abeykoon ensured a well-controlled contest.