CH&FC continued to ride their wave of momentum as they edged past a spirited Sailors outfit to maintain their unbeaten streak in their week three clash at the Navy Grounds in Welisara (28th December 2025) .
After a win and a draw at Longdon Place and Nittawela in two of their toughest games on paper, the Gymkhana Club made the trip to Welisara looking to keep their unbeaten record intact and further strengthen their credentials as title contenders.
>>CH Silence the Nittawela Fortress With a Last Gasp Penalty Try<<
It was the home side that hit the ground running, winning a penalty straight from kick-off and wrestled the momentum their way in the opening exchanges. However things took a drastic turn in the 12th minute when Senura Pieris was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Maliksha Perera, and leaving the hosts with the daunting task of playing more than 65 minutes with a man down.
However, after a missed penalty and an unsuccessful drop goal attempt, veteran Thilina Weerasinghe opened the scoring for the Sailors when he slotted a regulation penalty in the 20th minute. (NSC 03-00 CH&FC)
The visitors, who weren’t playing at their usual best, finally broke their duck in the 25th minute after a textbook number 08 break created an overlap on the blindside. Thanuja Maduranga the benefactor as he touched down in the corner to finish off the move. Janith Chandimal nailed a difficult conversion (NSC 03-07 CH&FC)
The game meandered along for the rest of the half, before the forwards of CH&FC flexed their muscles just before the break, giving their side a two score advantage as Pulasthi Dassanayake dotted down off the back of a 5 metre rolling maul. The conversion was missed. (NSC 03-12 CH&FC)
Half Time: Navy Sports Club 03 (1P) – CH&FC 12 (2T,1C)
CH&FC picked up right where they left off in the second half. After a 50-22 from Janith Chandimal put them in the Navy SC red zone, they drew a penalty and went over for another try off the back of the rolling maul, This time it was Christian de Lile at the back of it. Another conversion was missed (NSC 03-17 CH&FC)
The Sailors added their first points of the half shortly after, as Weerasinghe made no mistake with another regulation three-pointer.. (NSC 06-13 CH&FC)
The game continued to be a stop-start affair as both sides continued to falter, with both faulty handling and ill-discipline. Until Devinda Rathnyake was shown a yellow card for a late charge
on the Navy half back, which put both sides down to 14 for 10 minutes. The crowd got behind the home side, who showed great intent and really began to force the issue, dominating the next few passages of play. They were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 74th minute when Isuru Perera barged through for the try.Weerasinghe flawless with the conversion, as the Sailors made it a 4 point game heading into the last 5 minutes (NSC 13-17 CH&FC)
>>CR & FC Flex Their Muscles Against Navy SC<<
However, Koli Tamanikalu came into his own for the visitors in the dying embers of the game. After another Chandimal touchfinder put them inside the Navy red zone, they patiently worked through the phases before Tamanikalu wriggled through for his first in the 77th minute to secure the bonus point. (NSC 13-22 CH&FC)
Tamanikalu put the icing on the cake with the clock in the red as he broke the line and went over untouched for his second in what was the last move of the game. Chandimal added the extras from in front of the posts(NSC 13-29 CH&FC)
The Gymkhana club will make the trip to Panagoda to take on the Soldiers next week, while the Sailors will head to Police Park to take on the Cops, as they continue their pursuit for a first win of the season.
Full Time: Navy Sports Club 13 (1T,1C,2P) – CH&FC 29 (5T,2C)
- Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match – Janith Chandimal (CH&FC)
Points Breakdown
Navy Sports Club – 13
Thilina Weerasinghe- 1C 2P, Isuru Perera- 1T
CH&FC 29
Koli Tamanikalu- 2T, Thanuja Maduranga- 1T, Pulasthi Dassanayake- 1T, Christian de Lile- 1T, Janith Chandimal- 2C
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