The once elite Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club better known as CR and FC produced one of the finest displays in club rugby to subdue the invincible might of a force as formidable as Kandy Sports Club to win the Premier league rugby title that ended the reign of the defending champions on Sunday.
An unprecedented turn out of rugby followers taking advantage of a free entrance to the venue of CR and FC at Longden Place in Colombo watched in amazement how the home team did what many teams in the fray could not have done as they pounced on every given opportunity that set alight the proceedings while Kandy SC did everything sometimes coming from behind on several occasions to take the lead.
The 33-28 final scoreline said it all how close the match was that could have been anyone’s game until the very end and eventually it was CR’s five tries that made the difference.
There was a time during the game that CR could have been written off mid-way in the first half as Kandy SC roared into a 13-3 lead with just under five minutes left before the teams could have gone in for the break.
But being a finale or decider and playing in front of their home crowd that outweighed Kandy SC supporters, CR got back and matched their opponents move for move making it very clear that the Red Shirts were in no way willing to wait another 26 years to win the best prize on offer in Sri Lanka’s domestic rugby.
Even before the start of play Kandy SC despite losing to CR on their home ground in a crucial win-able first round contest were touted as favourites given their knack to bounce back and win from the dumps.
But where Kandy SC lost was in having to put up against CR’s plan to run the ball working their backs which eventually proved the deciding factor as the Forwards of both teams were equally balanced or perhaps the home team found themselves wanting in close scrums when the defending champs were able to hold them back or shove them off their feet.
Historically CR last won the League title way back in 1998 and came very close to winning the title in 2010 with present coach Dushanth Lewke as captain.
But it was CR’s day and fireworks lit up the sky at Longden Place when the final whistle was blown.
