Fazil scores hat-trick in farewell game

By Shamseer Jaleel

Kandy Sports Club continued their unbeaten run through to the end of the Dialog League 2017/2018 as they edged out Havelocks Sports Club 30 points (2 goals, 2 tries, 2 penalties) to 28 points (4 goals) in their final league game at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.

At halftime Kandy led 22-0. Kandy played well in the initial half through some powerful running rugby. Their three-quarter line looked threatening. Fazil Marija, who was playing in his farewell game, was simply outstanding, splitting Havelocks’ defence at will with his powerful runs. He was well-supported by full back Nigel Ratwatte who joined the three-quarter line on attack. Kandy, who missed out on the services of Jason Dissanayake and Sayuru Anthony, showed some gaping holes in their defence but Shehan Pathirana and Yakoob Ali stood out for them in forwards play.  

Havies on the other hand played very poorly in the initial half, conceding three tries to Kandy which created a major margin between the two sides. In forwards play Sharo Fernando and Flanty Liston stood out. 

In the three-quarter line Nishon Perera, Reza Mubarak and Hirantha Perera were outstanding. They were missing Dulaj Perera and Kevin Dixon through injury. The Park Club played cohesive rugby and came back brilliantly in the latter half to score all of their 28 points but they ran out of time to spoil Kandy’s party.

Kandy drew first blood in the 4th minute of the game through a sweeping three-quarter move which was initiated by Richard Dharmapala and ended with a try for skipper Gayan Weeraratne. 

Both sides did not allow each other to score over the next 23 minutes of play. While on attack, Marija split the Havies’ defence to touch down under the posts for Nigel Ratwatte to add the extra points. 

A few minutes later Nigel Ratwatte was on target with a 40-metre penalty for a high tackle on a Kandy player. On the stroke of halftime Marija showed his brilliance once more. He kicked, chased and collected to score for Kandy. Nigel was on target with the kick at goal.

After the turnaround it was Havies who dominated proceedings with some attacking rugby. A penalty from Nigel put Kandy further ahead at 25-0. Havies scored their first try through Sudam Sooriyarachchi. Fullback Reza Mubarak was on target with his kick at goal. In the next forwards move Liston scored with Reza adding the extras. 

Havies number 8 Lasindu Karunathilake, who had a grand game, scored two consecutive tries which were both goaled by Reza. But Kandy, who never want to lose at Nittawela, fittingly earned their last try from Marija. The referee for the game was Rohan Fernando. The TMO was Tony Amit and the Match Commissioner was Tuan Dole.    

Kandy SC, which has been existence for 143 years, started winning trophies in 1994 under Indrajith Bandaranayake, when they won the league. Kandy were triple champions in 1997 under Lasantha Wijesuriya and remained unbeaten on two occasions during this time. Kandy was coached by Sean Wijesinghe with Nalaka Weerakody with Saliya Kumara assisting them. Lasantha Wijesuriya was their Rugby Chairman with Kapila Sila serving as the Team Manager.

Dialog Axiata Group Chief Marketing Officer Amli Nanayakkara gave away the awards. Navy was named the runner-up team while the highest point scorer of tries plus the kicking award went to Thilina Weerasinghe of Navy.  

Pix by Indraratna Balasuriya and 

Shamseer Jaleel