Sheriff's hat-trick help Kandy win handsomely

by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sport Corr.

Three brilliant tries by Kandy Sports Club fullback Mohamed Sheriff helped them to defeat Sri Lanka Air Force by 39 points (4 goals, 1 try, 2 penalties to 3 (1 penalty) in their Caltex League Rugby Tournament match played at Nittawela yesterday. At half time Kandy led 10-3.

The first 20 minutes did not produce any scoring as both teams took time to settle down.

Kandy opened scoring in the 21st minute through a 35 metre penalty fired by fly half Saliya Kumara.

From here onwards it was Kandy's back division who dominated the game to ground the Airmen.

In the 30th minute three quarter movement in the mid field saw Kandy's Gayan Weeraratne slipping tackles to score under the post. Saliya Kumara added the extra points. Kandy 10-0.

In the 38th minute, Kandy's line was blown-off side and centre Charith Senaviratne converted the penalty. Air Force 3-10 and with that score the teams went for lemons.

The second half was a disaster for Airmen as they played ball often dropping passes at key stages.

In the 3rd minute of the second half Air Force line was spotted off side and fly half Saliya Kumara fired the penalty which was awarded. Kandy 13-3.

In the 9th minute, deep inside Kandy territory a quick pass by centre Pradeep Liyanage to fullback Mohamed Sheriff who ran 50 metres to score under the post. Saliya Kumara added the extra points. Kandy 20-3.

Four minutes later again a quick movement inside Kandy territory saw fullback Mohamed Sheriff sprinting 60 metres chased by a host of Airmen but he showed them a clean pair of heels to touch down under the post. Saliya Kumara added the extra points. Kandy 27-3.

In the 20th minute, a pass by an Air Force forward was intercepted and booted in football fashion by Saliya Kumara who ran about 50 metres to touch down mid left but he failed to add the extra points. Kandy 32-3.

Almost on the stroke it was another `Sheriff Special' when he collected a pass from Radhika Hettiarachchi and did a blazing 50 metre run to end up in under the post and added the extra points himself to bring his tally of points in the match to 17 points.

Priyantha Gunaratne refereed.