Weerakoddy kicks Kandy to victory

by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr.

Defending Caltex League Champions Kandy Sports Club came from behind to score a thrilling 15 points (1 goal, 1 try, 1 penalty) to 14 (1 goal, 1 penalty goal) win after a bruising battle of rugby in their Caltex League rugby tournament match at Nittawela yesterday. At lemons CR & FC led 14-5.

This victory will keep Kandy's chances alive in retaining the League title for yet another year. But Kandy were extremely lucky to win as they were outclassed in the line outs often losing even their throw-ins and did not fare too will in the set scrums. But it was their bone jarring tackles and excellent play in the loose which helped them to keep the red shirts under check.

CR & FC on the other hand got plenty of possession via the line outs and scrums did not capitalise much from them. Their forwards were much heavier and often pushed the Kandy pack by several metres but even this did not produce the desired results for them as their three quarters were slow and were stalled in action by the Kandy club.

Kandy took an early lead when winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe scored far left off a second phase move. Full back Nalaka Weerakoddy failed to add the extra points. Kandy SC 5-0. The red shirts had to wait till the 35th minute of the first to make their first scoring effort. A scrum inside Kandy '22' with CR attacking appeared to collapse and a penalty was awarded and this was goalled by full back Asanka Rodrigo. CR 7-5.

Just before the short blast CR won a scrum deep inside Kandy territory and centre Achalanka breezed over the score mid left. Full back Asanka Rodrigo added the extra points. CR led 14-5. In the 10th minute of second half, a scrum inside CR '22' was won by Kandy and their three quarters moved the ball for winger Sameera Silva to plunge over for a brilliant try. Full back Nalaka added the extra points and Kandy had reduced the gap to 12-14.

With minutes ticking away and in the dying stages of the game Kandy were awarded a 35 metre penalty and full back Nalaka Weerakoddy under severe pressure made a beautiful conversion to give Kandy a wafer thin majority by a single point.

Aruna Jayasekera refereed.