Kandy stave off strong challenge from CH

By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent at Nittawela

RUGBY: Defending Caltex League staved off a strong challenge by CH and FC to scrape through to a 16 points (1 goal, 2 penalties, 1 drop) to 11 (1 try, 2 penalties) in their Caltex League first round rugby match played at Nittawela yesterday. At half time Kandy led 10-8.

A very heavy shower before the match made ground conditions wet and muddy but CH and FC excelled in these conditions through their mobile pack and Kandy's forwards could not match their play. There was a lot of confusion in identifying the players of both teams had red and white jersey and wore muddy.

Kandy owe their victory to the kicking ability of their veteran full back Nalaka Weerakoddy who stood between victory and defeat. Ho contributed no less than 11 points through a try conversion, two penalties and a drop goal. One could imagine Kandy's plight if not for his presence. He also kicked judiciously to relieve pressure when the CH forwards were threatening to penetrate Kandy's defence. Kandy opened scoring in the 8th minute of play through prop forward Kishore Jehan who collected a pass from Nalaka Weerakoddy and touched down mid left. Nalaka Weerakoddy added the extra points. Kandy 7-0.

CH and FC reduced the lead in the 16th minute through a penalty fired by winger Indika Uadayakumara. CH 3-7.

CH & FC took over the lead in the 23rd minute when flanker Dinuk de S. Wijeratne scored off a ruck which went unconverted. CH 8-7. In the 30th minute CH scrum half Roy Nishantha was spotted off side and full back Nalaka Weerakoddy fired a 40 metre penalties for Kandy to wrest the lead (Kandy 10-8).

The second half saw play switching from one and to another and Kandy's Nalaka Weerakoddy and CH's Indika Udayakumara missed a penalty each. In the 20th minute of the second half Kandy took play deep inside CH territory and when the ball came out of the maul, full back Nalaka Weerakoddy caught the CH defence napping and executed a peach of a drop goal from 35 metres our for Kandy to increase their lead to 13-8. In the 28th minute CH were penalised for going over the top and Nalaka Weerakoddy converted a 35 metre penalty. Kandy 16-8. A minute later Kandy were penalised for not releasing the ball and Sajith Bandara put over the penalty for CH to reduce the lead to 11-16.

Aruna Jayasekera refereed.