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| Sunday, 10 August 2003 |
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Kandy crowned Caltex League champs, but CH beats them 36/22 by LAL GUNASEKERA For Kandy Sports Club, the glamour of winning the glittering Caltex Trophy for emerging champions of the 'A' Division League Rugby Championship, lost shine when they were beaten for the first occasion in the 15 games this season by the CH & FC who triumphed by 36 points (4 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) to 22 (2 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) after the scores were level (15-all) at half-time at Maitland Crescent yesterday amidst a massive crowd. Kandy strode into Maitland Crescent with an unbeaten record in their 14 games. Even if they had lost or even drew the game yesterday, they had made certain of the League title for the third consecutive year and the seventh since 1994. However, this record was tarnished by CH who were the worthy runners-up losing only to yesterday's opponents 13-35 at Nittawela in the first-round, but being held to a 25-all draw by Havelocks in the second-round, which finally put paid to any chances they had of winning the League title this season. Kandy had only themselves to blame. True, they were without six of their regulars through injury. They included full-back Nalaka Weerakkody, centre Indrajith Bandaranayake, winger Dhanushka Pushpakumara, second-rower Pradeep Basnayake, prop Saranath Hettiaratchi and scrum-half Amjad Buksh. The replacements were adequate, but Kandy just failed to play their usual game and made far too many mistakes for a champion side with skipper Sajith Mallikaratchi having a bad day. CH on the other hand had more possession which helped them to win in the end. However, it was rather disappointing to see their three-quarters handling the ball so poorly unlike in the game against Army two weeks ago. It was a good team effort and congratulations in beating the champions. Udaya Hettiarachchi who filled in for Weerakkody's absence in the last line of defence, put Kandy ahead in the third minute with a simple 15-metre penalty (3-0) and CH's Nalin Dissanayake missed a 40-metre penalty three minutes later. However in the 11th minute, CH, took the lead. Off a line-out 20 metres on the right flank which CH won the game changed direction for Fijian centre Jimmy Bolakoro to touch down near the right upright. Dissanayake converted and CH led 7-3. Three minutes again, they scored again. This time, Kandy's full-back Udaya Hettiarachchi failed to collect the high ball and there was CH's left winger Yuganthara Karunaratne to pick the ball and go ever. Dissanayake failed with the conversion (CH 12-3). Kandy reduced the lead four minutes later with scrum-half Nilufer Ibrahim slicing through under the posts off a second phase move, but surprisingly, Hettiaratchi fluffed the kick (Kandy 8-12). A little later, CH's flanker Fred Moe nearly went ever near the left corner flag, but the ball slipped out of his grasp. Then Nalin Dissanayake put over a 35-metre penalty for CH to lead 15-8 in the 23rd minute and four minutes into 'injury time' Kandy were awarded a penalty try which was goalled by Radhika Hettiaratchi to equal the scores. At half time, Fijian Kinijoji Rakata replaced Moe the Samoan whilst Srikantha came in for Yuganthara Karunaratne for CH. Bolakoro scored his second try for CH in the 11th minute after the "turn around" with a splendid 40-metre run and Dissanayake made certain of the extra points (CH 22-15). Soon after touching down Bolakoro limped off the field with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Alex Talia another Samoan. It was Tali who scored twice for CH within the space of 12 minutes. He first scored in the 23rd minute off a five-metre short-tap on the right flank which Nalin Dissanayake converted (CH 29-15) and in the 35th minute unleashed a brilliant 40-metre run to score his second try which was converted again by Dissanayake (CH 36-15). Then in "injury time" Kandy's left-winger Sameera de Silva went over and Nilufer Ibrahim made a fine conversion (Kandy 22-36) and although they made several attacks on CH territory, failed to penetrate the solid CH defence. Two players - Ifeta Tema Kandy's Samoan centre and CH's Berty Jayasekera were sent into "Sin Bin" in this session. Referee Dilroy Fernando had his hands full in attempts to control the spectators moving into the playing area on the pavilion end. Today, the curtain comes down on the Caltex League Championship with CR & FC hosting Army at Longden Place at 5 p.m. **** Havies win 41/8 Havelocks beat Police by 41 points to 8 in their second round Caltex "A" Division League Rugby Championship match at Havelock Park yesterday. |
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