CR beat Havies in thriller to enter Clifford Cup final

Thursday, 3 April 2025 01:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CR second row Naveen Marasinghe held by a Havies player

By Shamseer Jaleel

CR & FC prevailed in a hotly contested Clifford Cup semi-final encounter against Havelock Sports Club, winning by the thinnest margin of one point at Havelock Park last evening.

In the end, CR won 25/24 and will now meet Kandy SC in the Clifford Cup final.

At the short breather, the Reds led 15/10.

CR played well during the first 60 minutes of play with acting skipper Lasindu Karunathilake, Chamod Muthunayake, and Omalka Gunaratne being outstanding, while the Park Club, looking behind the clock during the early part of the initial half, came back into the game with Chatura Dilshan, Mohamed Rifan, and Mursheed Faleel entering the field during the last 25 minutes of the game, but in the end ran out of time, losing out the opportunity for a final showdown against Kandy SC.

The game began with CR fullback Mursheed Doray putting over an early penalty, putting the Reds on the scoreboard. As the contest progressed, CR capitalised on their attacking momentum, with Omalka Gunaratne powering over the line for the first try in the 31st minute of the initial half. Doray successfully added the conversion, extending their lead to 10/0.

Havelock responded through a Sandesh Jayawickrema penalty, reducing the deficit. They soon levelled the scores when Udara Lakshan crossed the whitewash, with Sandesh converting to make it 10/10.

However, just before the break, Omalka once again showed his strength and determination, bulldozing his way over the try line for his second of the evening. CR went into halftime with a narrow 15/10 lead.

After the turnaround, CR continued to push forward, with Chamod Muthunayake adding a try to the Longdon Place Club tally. Doray, who had earlier missed two penalty attempts both hitting the uprights of the post, managed to convert one of the tries and slot a crucial penalty, pushing CR’s advantage further. The Reds looked to be in control at this stage, maintaining their lead with 22/10 as the clock started ticking down.

Havies getting in their experienced players such as Mohamed Rifan, Mursheed Faleel, and Chatura Dilshan in the last 20 minutes of the game made a big difference, with the Park Club making a strong comeback into the game.

Havelocks, known for their resilience, were far from done. Chatura Dilshan led their second-half charge, crossing the try line twice to bring them back into contention. Sandesh Jayawickrema held his nerve, successfully converting both tries, bringing Havies within striking distance of an incredible comeback victory.

With the game hanging in the balance, CR displayed remarkable defensive grit to deny Havelock any further scoring opportunities. Their ability to withstand intense pressure in the final minutes proved decisive, as they clung onto their slender one-point advantage until the final whistle.

CR will travel one last time this season to Nittawela to meet the defending League champions, Kandy Sports Club, in the final of the Clifford Cup on 6 April.

Referee Raveen Alexander controlled the game.

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