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| Sunday, 8 June 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Kandy SC had it tough beating Havies 26/13 by LAL GUNASEKERA Defending champions Kandy Sports Club should be thankful for the three tries they scored within the space of 15 minutes in the second half which helped them immensely to beat Havelocks by 26 points (3 goals, 1 try) to 13 (2 tries, 1 penalty) after being led 0-8 at "lemons" in their first-round Caltex "A" Division League Rugby Championship match at Havelock Park yesterday. For a side that had compiled 541 points in just five games, Kandy, who were playing in the metropolis for the first occasion did not impress at all. Their forwards looked unfit and even lost a major share of possession. It was left for the outsides to get them through yesterday's hurdle - and clear it they did. This was their first tough assignment and they have yet to play CH & FC next Sunday at Nittawela, Police and Army also at Nittawela and then CR & FC at Longden Place. They will certainly have to look sharp in these games. Havelocks had only themselves to blame. Before the game got under way, coach Ana Saranapala, said that his team was playing much better now and looked confident. They led 13-7, 10 minutes into the second session, but some lethargic play let them down very badly. They gave away three opportunistic tries to their opponents through fumbled handling of the ball which saw Kandy take the lead at 14-13 and eventually win 26-13. Fly-half Tikiri Dissanayake put Havelocks ahead with a simple 15 metre penalty in the third minute and in the 21st minute right winger Lakala Perera went over near the corner flag for an unconverted try (Havelocks 8-0). Kandy had two opportunities of scoring, but Nalaka Weerakkody fluffed two easy penalties in front of the posts. After the "turn around", Kandy scored their first opportunities try through left winger Pushpakumara in the 6th minute near the corner flag and Weerakkody making a superb conversion reduced the lead to 7-8. Three minutes later, Havelocks, went further ahead when Tongan centre Joseph Waqa made a fine break for a an unconverted try near the right corner flag (Havies 13-7). Then came three tries by Kandy within the space of 15 minutes for them to win the game. In the 12th minute, Havelocks centre Arosh Fernando fumbled with the ball for Kandy's Selvam to gather it and go over and with Weerakkody making certain of the conversion Kandy led 14-13. Ten minutes later, Lakala Perera and Waqa both fumbled with the ball inside their own "22" and Kandy's centre Indrajith Bandaranayake was quick to grab it and go over. Weerakkody missed the conversion (Kandy 19-13). Three minutes later, left winger Pushpakumara ran over 40 metres down his flank for Bandaranayake to add the finishing touches (Kandy 26-13). Dilroy Fernando refereed. Today, Old Zahirians take on Kurunegala RFC at Maitland Crescent, while Kandy Youth meet Air Force at Nittawela. Both games will kick-off at 5 p.m. |
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