Bahrain outclass Kandy

West Asia Club Rugby Championship 2018

• Bahrain RFC 31 points
• Kandy SC 21 points

Bahrain Rugby Football Club kept their hopes alive when they beat an injury-hit Kandy SC by a 31 points (One penalty try, three tries, three penalties) to 20 points (two tries, two conversions, two penalties) win at the West Asia Club Rugby Championship 2018, which took place at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.

At the short breather, the visitors led 14/3.

Kandy, playing minus 11 of their regulars, did well in patches. They opted to work their three-quarter line, but Bahrain RFC defence stood very firm, giving no gaping holes for a free move. At times, Kandy got their chances, but they never checked the visitors by kicking and chasing game which could have come handy their way. The visitors, who dominated proceedings, looked a yard faster in loose play. In the three-quarter move, too, they looked slightly better and confident in their approach.

Bahrain RFC drew first blood in the seventh minute of the game when hooker Gibson Lindsay scored the first try. Fly-half Luke Radley missed the conversion. A minute later, Kandy SC reduced the lead when their full-back Thilina Wijesinghe kicked a 35-metre penalty. But, Kandy got a good chance of overtaking the visitors through two kickable penalties, but Thilina was off target. Five minutes later, Bahrain RFC went ahead when Luke Radley was on target with a penalty kick. But, Kandy got into dormant for the last 10 minutes of the game when Bahrain RFC scored two penalties to take the short breather at 14/3.

The second half was a tight battle between both sides, each scoring 17 points. After the turnaround through a forwards rush, Suna Fameitau scored to take a splendid lead 19/3. Kandy, playing some quality three-quarter rugby, found the gaping hole which allowed dashing winger Vishwamithra Jayasinghe to score a magnificent right corner flag try. Thilina converted from a difficult angle. Kandy cut the deficit further with another Thilina penalty. With the game heating up, two of the Bahrain RFC players were sent to the sin bin for rough play. The visitors, who had other ideas, scored through their lanky second rower Bell Thomas to take a 24/13 lead. They kept on attacking and scored through a penalty try when Kandy collapsed the scrum on several occasions. Kandy had time for one consolation try when former Maliyadeva player Lahiru Daulagala touched down. 

Kandy will play Harlequins away in UAE on 7 September.

Referee – Drake Norman 

Assistant referee – Maurice Butler and Praneeth Wearanga

(SJ)