Friday Feb 20, 2026
Friday Feb 20, 2026
Monday, 2 February 2026 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Havelock Sports Club bounced back in emphatic fashion with a spirited 28/14 bonus-point victory over CR & FC, producing one of their finest performances of the season in the Inter-Club Rugby League Super Round encounter, which concluded at Havelock Park on Saturday.
Havies scored through four converted tries, while CR scored their points through two converted tries.
The Park Club not only secured a morale-boosting win but also crucially denied their traditional rivals CR & FC a losing bonus point, keeping the contest fiercely competitive from start to finish.
At the short breather, it was 14 apiece.
Leading from the front was Havelock skipper Janidu Fernando, Azmir Fajudeen, and Abdullah Faiz, who played their hearts out. Havies, who showed renewed intensity in both attack and defence after a challenging run of results, dominated key exchanges, applying sustained pressure through superb forwards play and sharp backline execution. Their ability to convert territory into points proved decisive, as they crossed the whitewash often enough to secure the all-important bonus point, much to the delight of the home faithful.
CR & FC, however, will take solace in the fact that despite the defeat, they regained the prestigious Eustace Matthysz Trophy. Their superior aggregate score of 47-42 ensured the silverware remained at Longdon Place, underlining the importance of their commanding first-round performance. Their no. 8 Enesi Waqanisau, Pasindu Bandara, and Chemod Muthunayake played well but they lacked the finishing touches.
Havies scored their four tries through Mohamed Rifan, while Abdullah Faiz gave Havies early momentum with strong finishes out wide, while Amituanai Visesio’s powerful carry close to the line tilted the balance firmly in their favour after the break. Skipper Janidu Fernando capped off a commanding outing with a try of his own, once again leading from the front and inspiring his side with relentless energy. Fly-half Samuel Maduwantha was at his best with the boot, converting all four tries to ensure maximum reward for Havelock’s attacking intent.
The Reds managed tries through Niroshan Perera and Enesi Waqanisau, but were unable to build on a promising first-half display. While their backline showed flashes of class, they lacked cohesion in the final quarter as Havelock tightened their grip on the contest. The Reds lacked the finishing touches, plus playing minus Marasinghe and Omalka was a major blow for the Longdon Place club. The CR bench looked very ordinary.
This result has blown the Super Round wide open, with all four teams now firmly in the hunt for League honours.
For Havies, this emphatic win signals a return to form and belief, while CR will be eager to regroup quickly in what promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable run to the finish with two more key games against CH and Kandy remaining in the Super Round.
The Referee was Aymen Jrill (Saudi Arabia).
In another Plate segment encounter, Air Force Sports Club showed their intentions clearly to secure the segment with a runaway 61/24 win over Navy Sports Club at Welisara last weekend.
At the short breather, the winners led 28/10.
The Referee was Raveen Alexander.
