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| Sunday, 29 June 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Kandy ward off strong challenge by Army to win 37/23 by S. M. JIFFREY ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Corr Defending champions Kandy Sports Club repulsed a strong challenge by Sri Lanka Army to post a fine 37 points (2 goals, 4 tries, 1 penalty) to 23 (2 goals, 3 penalties) win in their Caltex League 'A' Division inter-club rugby tournament match played before a very large at Nittawela yesterday. At half-time, Kandy led 20-10. Kandy though winning, lacked a good performance in the loose play. They won a major share of the lines and even the scrum appeared to be shared but the soldiers fired their guns through some excellent loose play which rattled the Kandy team. Kandy took an early lead in the 2nd minute when full back Nalaka Weerakoddy put over a penalty. Kandy 3-0. Kandy went further ahead when their three quarter clicked and winger Radhika Hettiarachchi with a powerful run blasted the Army's defence to score far left. Full back Nalaka Weerakoddy failed to add the extra points. Kandy 8-0. But Army hit back in the 15th minute of play through a fine try by Kandyan centre Edwin and this was goalled by full back T. A. Silva. Army 7-8. But Kandy increased the lead a few minutes when scrum half Amjad Buksh dummied his way to score by the posts and Nalaka Weerakoddy added the extra points. Kandy 15-7. Army next closed the gap through a penalty fired by full back T. A. Silva. Army 10-5. Just before the short whistle centre Indrajith Bandaranayake received a pass from winger Dhanushka Pushpakumara are fill over. This was not converted. Kandy led 20-10 at lemons. But after the resumption Army appeared to have more fire in their attack and launched a series of attack. An infringement by a Kandy player saw Army full back T. A. Silva converting a penalty. Army 13-20. But the game see-sowed and a penalty deep inside Army territory saw Kandy taking a short tap and flanker Sean Wijesinghe fill over for an unconverted try. Kandy 25-13. In the 18th minute of this half Kandy scored this time centre Indrajith Bandaranayake sent a long pass to winger Radhika Hettiarachchi who with a powerful run scored for right. Kandy 30-13. Then came the final challenge from the soldiers and their forwards charged with purpose and ended in lock forward Sithara Fernando touching down far left. Full back T. A. Silva goalled with a brilliant kick. Army 20-30. With minutes ticking away a penalty awarded to Army saw T. A. Silva putting over with glee Army 23-30. The match appeared to be anybody's game at this stage and with play going into the injury time. A mistake by an Army defender who fumbled with the ball saw Kandy's winger Indrajith Bandaranayake picking up the loose ball and running nearly 35 metres to score under the post and Nalaka Weerakkody added the extra points. Shamrath Fernando refereed. |
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