Navy humbles Kandy SC 12 11

by Chris DHAMBARAGE

RUGBY: Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club have done it again! This time in a more spectacular manner. They have brought down reigning league champions Kandy Sports Club with another giant-killing performance.

Yesterday, on their home grounds at Welisara Navy defeated Kandy SC by 12 points to 11 points in a thrilling SLRFU Caltex Inter-Club `A’ Division league rugby tournament second round fixture.

The Sailors who brought down CR and FC last week, put up another tremendous performance and collected their points from four penalties after having built up a close 6-5 lead at half time. Kandy SC managed to score only a try and put over two penalties.

Navy rallied around through some excellent teamwork to register a memorable victory and to keep their hopes alive of winning the league title. Fullback Nuwan Hettiarachchi and their reliable fly-half Dav Anand lived up to expectations converting two crucial penalties each under tremendous pressure.

Navy’s success also had a great amount of significance considering the fact that this was the first time they had defeated Kandy in a league fixture. But more importantly, this was the first ever defeat for Kandy for four years in a league tournament match.

Kandy SC scored their solitary try through hooker Aruna Udangamuwa shortly before half time. In the second-half, they managed to put over only two penalties through the boot of fullback Radhika Hettiarachchi.

It was a giant-killing performance by Navy led by former Sri Lanka Youth player Yoshitha Rajapaksa, shattering of the unbeaten record of defending champions Kandy SC, who have been the undisputed league champions since 2001.

Saturday’s win was Navy SC’s second successive upset win in successive weekends, having shattered title hopes of CR & FC last Saturday. Navy SC has now won six matches in the 2009 league, having earlier notched up four smashing victories over Police (27-3), Air Force (27-3), CH and FC (18-12), Havelocks (32-3) and CR & FC (18-3).

It was Kandy SC’s first defeat in the premier league championship after losing to CR & FC way back in 2005.

CH win

Meanwhile, CH and FC survived a fierce late rally before overcoming Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club by 24 points to 22 points in their SLRFU Caltex inter club `A’ Division league rugby tournament match worked off at Ratmalana yesterday.

The winners collected their points from three goals and one penalty after having led 19-10 at half time. The Airmen responded with two goals, one try and one penalty.