Kandy in 29-13 win over Police

By Lal Gunesekera

RUGBY: Defending champions Kandy Sports Club did not have things their own way though beating Police by 29 points (3 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) to 13 (1 goal, 1 drop goal, 1 penalty) after leading 19-10 at half time in their Caltex 'A' Division League Rugby Championship game at Police Park last evening.

Kandy, the undisputed champions of the local rugby scene, who had massive wins in their three previous encounters, would not have expected Police to put up a fight yesterday. They had a tough time on their hands with the law enforcement officers playing a gutty game.

Kandy's right winger Jabbar opened scoring in the third minute with Saliya Kumara missing the conversion.

Police then went into the lead with a try by Priyantha Pradeep converted by Wijeweera in the eighth minute, followed by a 35-metre drop goal by Wijeweera in the 12th minute. Five minutes later, No. 8 Dushan Lewke put Kandy into the lead and with Saliya Kumara converting Kandy led 12-10. Four minutes before the breather, Kandy were awarded a penalty try converted by Saliya Kumara to take lemons 19-10.

After the turn around, Eranga Weerakoddy put over a penalty for Kandy to lead 22-10 in the third minute, but had to wait for another 18 minutes to get further ahead with flanker Selvam touching down for Eranga Weerakoddy's conversion to lead 29-10. Just before the final whistle of referee Orville Fernando, Wijeweera put over a 30-metre penalty for Police to reduce the lead.

DIG R. M. Lafir, a former Vidyartha and Police three-quarter, was the chief guest and was introduced to the two teams before the game.

Today, CR & FC play Old Zahirians at Longden place at 4.30 p.m.