Clifford Cup Knockout Rugby Tournament CR & FC RALLY KNOCKS OUT COPS

CR and FC fly half Thenuka Nanayakkara attacks

By Shamseer Jaleel

CR and FC rallied to secure their place in the second semi-finals of the Clifford Cup Knockout Rugby Tournament with a commanding 31 points (4 tries, 4 conversions, 1 penalty) to 20 points ( 2 tries, 2 conversions, 2 penalties) win over defending champions Police SC at Longden Place last evening.

At the short breather it was the Cops who led 13/7.

From the outset, Reds looked the more dominant side, with winger Mursheed Doray putting on a stellar performance. He scored two tries and converted four kicks, proving instrumental in his team’s success. 

Lasindu Karunathilake and Rinesh Silva also crossed the line, contributing to Reds’ tally. Doray’s accurate boot further added to their advantage with a well-taken penalty.

Police SC, despite a valiant effort, struggled to match the pace and intensity of their opponents. Their two tries came through Heshan Kalhara and Akash Madusanka, while Yohan Peiris and Yehan Bulathsinghala managed the conversions. Peiris also slotted in two penalties, keeping Police in contention until the latter stages of the game. 

Cops ended their unsuccessful season with much disappointment after leading 13/7 at the short breather. They lost out of steam in the end.

As the match progressed, CR and FC continued to apply pressure, maintaining their lead with disciplined defensive structures and well-executed attacks. Their superior fitness and tactical awareness saw them control key moments of the game, denying Police any opportunity for a late comeback.

With this victory, CR moves into the semi-finals, eyeing a shot at the Clifford Cup title.

Referee: Raveen Alexander