CR and FC in grand 38-5 win over Air Force

January 19, 2026 1:05 am

Sajeewa Jayakody

League leaders CR and FC played sharp, simple and powerful rugby as they outclassed Air Force Sports Club by 38 points (four goals, two tries) to 5 (one try) in their Maliban Trophy SLR Inter-club A Division League Rugby Tournament match at Longden Place, under floodlights.

Leading 19–5 at the breather, the Red Shirts kept the pressure on to finish the first round in style.

CR and FC looked like a well-oiled machine from the opening whistle. They mixed strong forward power with smart decision-making,made less mistakes and followed a clear game plan. With this win, they sit firmly on top of the table with 42 points, pulling clear of defending champions Kandy SC, who trail on 29.

The hosts started fast. Winger Chemod Muthunayake opened the scoring in the eighth minute, and acting skipper and fly half Mursheed Doray added the conversion for a 7–0 lead. The pressure stayed on, and in the 19th minute No. 8 Saufa Billivanua powered over from a strong maul. Doray converted to make it 14–0.

Air Force briefly fought back when CR and FC were down to 14 men. Hooker Shamika Kaushan crossed the goal line during that spell to reduce the gap to 14–5.. But the Red Shirts quickly regained control. Just before the break, flanker burly Omalka Gunaratne crashed over on the left flank to send CR and FC into half-time with a comfortable 19–5 lead.

The second half was one-way traffic. CR and FC earned their bonus point in the 48th minute when Billivanua scored his second try under the posts after another strong forward drive. Doray’s conversion pushed the score to 26–5.

The home side kept rolling forward. Winger Vishenka Silva finished neatly in the corner in the 55th minute to stretch the lead to 31–5. The final blow came late in the game when second rower powerfully built Naveen Marasinghe finished a smooth move started by Doray and Pasindu Bandara. Doray converted again to seal a 38–5 win.

•Courtesy from https://dailynews.lk/

https://dailynews.lk/2026/01/19/sports/935580/cr-and-fc-in-grand-38-5-win-over-air-force/