The Siri Lions and CR & FC faced each other in a Week 01 fixture of the Maliban Inter Club Rugby League 2025/26 today (15th November) at the CR & FC grounds. The Reds registered a comfortable win to open their season in style with a scoreline of 65 – 08.
CR & FC went over for the first try of the game through Chemod Muthunayake as he found space from the right flank after a good passing sequence. Dinesh de Silva was unable to add the extras for the Reds (SLSC 00 – 05 CR)
A tackler not rolling away penalty gave the Siri Lions the opportunity to open the scoring, and Nathan Gunarathne kicked it through to make the difference just 2 points (SLSC 03 – 05 CR)
CR & FC were once again on the attack after the Siri Lions conceded a tackler not rolling away penalty. After gaining some good yardage, the Reds shifted their direction of attack from left to right to right to left and caught the Siri Lions defense off guard, which enabled Aaron Corera to go over from the left flank. De Silva converted the try this time around to increase the lead further. (SLSC 03 – 12 CR)
The Siri Lions once again conceded a penalty which gave CR the chance to attack after a massive territory gainer, and they did exactly that as the forwards did all the work from there onwards with Thanuja Jayaweera touching down for the try. De Silva was once again unsuccessful with the conversion. (SLSC 03 – 17 CR)
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CR & FC went over for the bonus point try after Manilka Ruberu connected a lovely 50-22 kick, and the Reds made use of the rolling maul that followed and Harsha Maduranga found the whitewash. De Silva added the extras this time to make it a 21 point lead. (SLSC 03 – 24 CR)
Thenuka Nanayakkara then produced the best run of the game as the managed to find space between the Siri Lions number 13 and 14 and evaded another tackler before giving the offload out to Corera who went over for his 2nd try of the game. De Silva converted the try this time to his team into the 30s. (SLSC 03 – 31 CR)
Nanayakkara was once again instrumental with a lovely run straight from the middle of the field and some good supporting running lines from Ravindu Anjula and Thanuja Jayaweera opened the doors for Omalka Gunaratne to find the whitewash. However, the conversion didn’t go over again continuing the mixed fortunes for de Silva. (SLSC 03 – 36 CR)
Half Time : Siri Lions 03 – 36 CR & FC
CR & FC began the 2nd half in style, scoring a try off Charith Silva as the troubles continued for the Siri Lions. Nanayakkara tried to add the two points this instance, but once again missed. (SLSC 03 – 41 CR)
The Siri Lions managed to see off CR for a little while after the 7th try, but the problems returned to them once again when the CR rolling maul came into play, and they had no control whatsoever as Charith Silva touched down for an 8th time in the game for the Reds. Mursheed Zubair added the extras to take them closer towards the half century mark. (SLSC 03 – CR 48)
CR brought up the half century after Ravindu Anjula found the whitewash from the left side of the field, but the conversion once again went astray (SLSC 03 – 53 CR)
The Siri Lions found some sort of momentum after receiving a penalty and managed to make their way into the opposition 22m territory after a decent territory gainer. However, from the line out, CR & FC managed to turn things over and kick-started a counter attack, which ended with Mursheed Zubair scoring the try. This try was a clear indication of the poor defensive effort from Siri Lions. Zubair converted the try himself as the Reds entered the 60s. (SRSC 03 – 60 CR)
The final try for CR & FC came through Corera, who completed his hat trick marking a memorable debut for the Reds. The conversion went astray again this time, but the lead was well over 60 points at this point for CR. (SRSC 03 – 65 CR)
After receiving continuous penalties in the last few minutes, Praneeth Silva finally went over the line to register the first try for the Siri Lions. This was sort of a consolation for the Green jerseys as the Referee blew the final whistle of the game. (SRSC 08 – 65 CR)
For his fantastic performance throughout the game, Harsha Maduranga from CR & FC was adjudged Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match. He was exceptional at Scrum Half for the Reds and played pivotal part in registering such a comfortable victory.
Full Time : Siri Lions 08 – 65 CR & FC
SWISSTEK Perfect Player of the Match : Harsha Maduranga (CR & FC)
Points Breakdown
CR & FC :
Aaron Corera 15 Points (3T), Charith Silva 10 Points (2T), Mursheed Zubrai 9 Points (1T 2C), Dinesh de Silva 6 Points (3C), Ravindu Anjula 5 Points (1T), Omalka Gunaratne 5 Points (1T), Thanuja Jayaweera 5 Points (1T), Chemod Muthunayake 5 Points (1T), Thanuja Jayaweera 5 Points (1T)
Siri Lions SC :
Praneeth Silva 5 Points (1T), Nathan Gunaratne 3 Points (1P)
 at the CR & FC grounds. The Reds registered a comfortable win to open their season in style with a scoreline of 65-08.){kind=link}