Kandy made to fight for victory
By Ranjan ANANDAPPA
(Rugby). Defending champions Kandy Sports Club saved their blushes
through a hard fought 18 points ( 1 goal, 1 try and 2 penalties) to 13 (
1 goal, 2 penalties) win over a rejuvinated Havelock SC outfit in their
opening Caltex League 'A' division rugby encounter at Havelock Park
yesterday.
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Kandy SC winger Sanjeeva Jayasinghe scoring the match
winning try for his side in their Caltex 'A' Division League
opening match against Havelock Sports Club at Havelock Park
yesterday. Kandy SC beat Havelocks 18/13. Pic. Kavindra
Perera |
Havelocks who gave a miserable display in the last year's tourney
were determined to recapture their past glory and came close to
achieving it with a fine display in the first half which had the
Kandyans rattled and finding to find their fluency.
Full back Sajith Bandara gave the Havelock Park club an early lead by
putting over a penalty. But twenty minutes later Kandy found the
equaliser through the boot of Roshan Weeraratne. Two minutes later
Bandara fired over his second penalty to put the Havies ahead 6/3.
Kandy were minus two of their key players full back Saliya Kumara and
centre Keith Gurusinghe as they have been banned by the IRB for being
tested positive of taking drugs.
Havelocks dominated the first half inspired by their two foreign
players Angsta the number 8 and centre Atelea Uaisel. With two Kandy
players winger Sanjeeva Jayasinghe and hooker Achala Perera sent to the
'sin bin' Kandy played with thirteen players for a while. But with the
return of Sanjeeva Jayasinghe the match opened up for for the up-country
club.
Former Sri Lanka captain Sanjeeva Jayasinghe gave his side a valuable
10-6 lead at the breather when he initiated a three quarter move for fly
half Fazil Marija to put the finishing touches. Roshan Weeraratne made
no mistake in adding the extra points.
Soon after the breather Anurudha Willwara collected a loose ball and
flashed accross to score and Sajith Bandara added the much needed extra
points for Havelocks to put them in front 13/10. But the the lead did
not last long as Roshan Weeraratne fired over a penalty when a Havies
player was blown off side to level the score 13/13. During the final
stages of the match Sanjeeva Jayasinghe scored the match winning try
which went unconverted.
Referee Irshad Cader.
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