League Champs Kandy edge out CR - 13-11 to remain unbeaten

By Ranjan Anandappa

RUGBY: In a game which was of only academic interest, but which created immense spectator enthusiasm, defending League champions Kandy Sports Club maintained their unbeaten record for the second year in succession when they beat CR and FC by 13 points (1 goal, 2 penalties) to 11 (1 try, 2 penalties) in a pulsating Caltex League rugby match played at Longden Place yesterday.

If the first half belonged to the ‘Red Shirts’ the second was dominated by the Kandy Club who came back storming after conceding a 8-0 lead at the turn around. CR and FC used their forwards play to good effect in the first half driving into rucks and mauls with Shamil Mohammed, hooker Anuja Perera, Dharmatileka, flanker Pavithra Fernando, Number Eight Dushanth Lewke and Danushka Perera giving of their best.

However, Kandy’s back division looked threatening whenever they were in motion and it was left to the home team’s three quarters to put the brakes on Kandy SC which they succeeded to a great extent.

However, it was the individual brilliance and the unerring kicking of scrum half Saliya Kumara that provided the Kandy team with their final outcome of the game. He came off with flying colours dishing out some accurate passes from the base of the scrum and his kicks over the opponents had the CR defence in disarray.

The other player who stood out for Kandy SC was full back Radhika Hettiarachchi, who was a tower of strength with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch and also joined the line to form the overlap and was rewarded for his fine efforts with a try mid-way in the second half.

Saliya Kumara first put over a 25-metre penalty in the ninth minute after the breather and then made no mistake with another 25 metre penalty in the 26 minute after Radhika Hettiarachchi touched down under the posts off a five metre scrum which was goalled by Saliya Kumara giving him eight points out of 13.

CR and FC opened scoring in the 26th minute when Dinesh Kumara collected a pass off Mohammed Sherif who made a break off a move in mid field and ran thirty metres and fell over for an unconverted try.

Thereafter Reza Mubarak put over a 25 metre penalty and the ‘Red Shirts’ led 8-0 at the breather. The game was played at a terrific pace from the inception and both teams were engaged in a compelling battle of supremacy with CR and FC trying to end the unbeaten run of the Kandy club.

They came very close to doing it, but with the scores 13-11, CR and FC were awarded a penalty but Mohamed Sherif failed to put over the 25 metre kick much to the dismay of their supporters with eight minutes of play left, as Kandy SC remained unbeaten in the league for the second successive year and retained the title for the eighth consecutive year.

Pradeep Fernando refereed.