Kandy in remarkable fight-back to beat Havelocks by 25-24

SM Jiffrey Abdeen- Kandy Sports Corr

In one of the greatest fight-backs seen in a rugby match in the hill capital, Kandy Sports Club snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when they beat Havelocks Sports Club by 25 points (one goal, three tries, one penalty) to 24 (three goals, one penalty) in their Dialog ‘A’ Division League rugby match played at Nittawela yesterday. At half time it was the Havies who led 17-3.

Kandy’s match winning try came during the injury time and this was followed by an invasion by an over enthusiastic crowd and referee Maurice Butler went into the dressing room without the try conversion being taken. He returned to the field five minutes later and blew no sides and said that the final score stood.

It was a match that the Havies could have won on a platter and ‘threw it away in the last 20 minutes of play when they led 24-8. The man who transformed Kandy’s possible defeat into a wafer thin victory was stand off Fazil Marija who controlled the game beautifully though recovering from a head injury. He replaced Damien Ratwatte as stand off with 20 minutes to go and Kandy’s rally was seen.

It was the Havies who opened scoring in the fifth minute through a penalty put over by stand off Dulaj Perera.

In the 20th minute Kandy equalized through a penalty fired by centre Quinton Crocker.

Five minutes later, Havelocks winger Sandun Herath collecting a pass from Dulaj Perera sprinted away to score under the posts. Dulaj Perera added the extra points. Havelocks 10-3.

In the 30th minute, a three quarter move saw winger Mithun Hapugoda scoring under the posts for the Havies and Dulaj Perera obliged with the kick. Havelocks 17-3. With that score the teams changed ends.

In the 14th minute of the second half Havelocks flanker Shehan Pathirana sliced through Kandy’s defence to score near the left posts giving Dulaj Perera an easy kick. Havelocks led 24-3.

Kandy’s fight-back began with a try by centre Christopher Cloeto who gave the finishing touches to a three quarter movement. Kandy 8-24.

In the 30th minute, Kandy pressed deep and flanker Oscar Ouma made a fierce run and scored far left. This try went unconverted. Kandy 13-24.

Two minutes later, Oscar Ouma made another brilliant run to touch down by the right corner flag. Scrum half Saliya Kumara made the best conversion of his life for Kandy to bridge the gap to 20-24.

With the match drifting into injury time a midfield move saw winger Anuruddha Wilwara making a scorching run slipping tackles as if he was a ‘grease man’ and scored mid-left. But the kick at goal was not taken due to crowd invasion.

Maurice Butler refereed.