Kandy retain League Title for eighth successive year

Beat Havelocks by 37 points to 17:

By Ranjan Anandappa

RUGBY: Kandy Sports Club took the Caltex ‘A’ Division rugby league title for the 8th year in succession when they beat Havelocks SC by 37 points (2 goals, 4 tries, 1 penalty) to 17 (2 goals, 1 penalty) in a key match at Havelock Park yesterday.

After a somewhat dismal first half the Havies came back partially into the game playing with better co-ordination after conceding a 20-3 lead at the breather.

Kandy the champion outfit opened scoring in the 5th minute when Fazil Marija’s up and under was collected by winger Sanjeeva Jayasinghe to score by the right corner flag. Saliya Kumara’s penalty gave the winners a 8-0 lead. Havies would have closed the gap, but Samantha Lakshan missed a 45 metre penalty.

Kandy kept on attacking with their robust style of play and flanker Dilip Selvam touched down for the second try which Radika Hettiarachchi failed to add the extra points (Kandy 13/0).

Kandy was forging ahead without much competition at this stage when Fazil Marija pierced the Havelock defence off a mid field ruck which Saliya Kumara converted. Just before the breather Samantha Lakshan put over a penalty for Havelocks and the score read 20-3.

Havelocks played with more determination and cohesion in the mid second half. But Kandy struck early when Sameera Silva kicked ahead and a Havelocks defender fumbled and Pradeep Liyanage collected the ball and scored.

Thereafter Havies scored two quick tries through winger Nuwan Hettiarachchi and prop forward Shaafi Hassan with Lakshan adding the extra points on both occasions to give them some respite.

However, during the dying stages of the game Kandy sealed the game in their favour with tries scored by Sanjeeva Jayasinghe and Gayan Weeraratne which the extra points were added by Eranda Weerakoddy to the last try. Dilroy Fernando refereed.