Kandy reign supreme

By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

RUGBY: A late second half blitz by the reigning champions Kandy Sports Club saw them score a comfortable 40 points (3 goals, 2 tries, 2 penalties, 1 drop goal) to 20 (1 goal, 2 tries, 1 penalty) win over CR and FC in the final match of the Caltex League Rugby tournament played at Nittawela Stadium in Kandy yesterday before a packed house. At half time scores stood level at 10 all.

In fact the scores stood level 20 all till the 10th minute of the second half and the game looked evenly balanced with both sides having a chance to triumph till the Kandyans fired the salvoes from their ammunition room to scuttle the red shirts beyond recovery.

It was one of the finest games witnessed at Nittawela for a long time both teams played hard and dished out red hot rugby to the spectators delight. Both the scrums and the line outs appeared to be shared but it was in the loose that the winners excelled through some power play by skipper Jeeva Galgamuwa, Kishore Jehan, Anuranga Walpola, Imran Bisthamin, Sumedha Jayasinghe and Buddhi Thalagampola. But one who was singularly responsible for gathering of points at crucial moments was their star full back Nalaka Weerakoddy who contributed 15 points through his 'golden boots' including his new customary drop goal from 40 metres out.

The game started with both teams playing clean and hard rugby and the red shirts drew first blood in the 7th minute when their winger Ravindra Wekadapola punted ahead and beat Kandy's Nalaka Weerakoddy in the race and touched down near the post. Hooker Senthil Kumar added the extra points for CR to lead 7-0.

Four minutes later Kandy reduced the lead when their prop forward Kishore Jehan scored off a maul by the left corner flag. Nalaka Weerakoddy failed to add the extra points. Kandy 5-7.

Kandy got into the lead for the first time in the match in the 29th minute of play when No. 8 Imran Bisthamin started a move in mid field and covered about 30 metres before sending out a reverse pass to winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe who in turn slipped the ball to centre Pradeep Liyanage who went over near the right corner flag. Nalaka Weerakoddy failed to add the extra points. Kandy 10-7.

In the 30th minute of play hooker Senthil Kumar missed a 35 metre penalty but made amends shortly afterwards to fire a 45 metre penalty to equalise 10-10.

The enthralling rugby continued into the second half. In the second minute after the turn around a desperate clearance by winger Erande Weerakoddy resulted in Sanjeewa Jayasinghe picking up the ball and scoring mid left. Nalaka Weerakoddy added the extra points for Kandy to regain the lead 17-10.

At this stage Kandy's Erande Weerakoddy and CR and FC's Ashan Karthelis were sent on 'sin bin' by referee Orville Fernando for dangerous play.

CR and FC got their act together in the 15th minute when centre Kaushal de Costa scored off a three quarter movement but hooker Senthil Kumar failed to add the extra points and Kandy was still in the lead 17-15. Two minutes later Nalaka Weerakoddy increased Kandy's lead to 20 - 15 when he fired a 35 metre penalty.

But the red shirts hit back in the 18th minute when the CR and FC threes moved the ball and centre Kaushal de Costa gave the finishing touches to touch down by the right corner flag. Senthil Kumar failed to add the extra points and the scores were level at 20 all setting the stage for an even contest that was never to be.

Kandy's recovery came at this stage. First it was scrum half Saliya Kumara when challenged by a host of CR defenders sent a pass to Nalaka Weerakoddy who executed a peach of a drop goal from 40 metres out. He further increased Kandy's lead through a 45 metre penalty. Kandy 26-20.

But CR and FC did not give up and they fought by storming Kandy's territory and another desperate clearance by winger Erande Weerakoddy ended up with centre Pradeep Liyanage scoring his second try mid left. Nalaka Weerakoddy converted for Kandy to lead 33-20.

In the closing stages of the game Nalaka Weerakoddy taking a short tap sent lock forward Senaka Bandara to pound his way to score mid left. Nalaka Weerakoddy once again added the extra points to give Kandy a deserving 40-20 win and the Caltex League title.

Orville Fernando refereed.

Managing Director of Chevron Lanka PLC, Kishu Gomes was the Chief Guest and he gave away the trophies. Also present were President of SLEFU, DIG Nimal Lewke, CEO Dilroy Fernando, Shehan Perera and Nimal Fonseka from Chevron Caltex.