Kandy beat CR to regain League

Monday, 10 March 2025 01:58 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel

Adeesha Weerathunge of CR is held by Dinal Ekanayake of Kandy

Kandy Sports Club continued their unbeaten run with a hard fought 39 points (5 tries, 4 conversions, 2 penalties) to 20 points (2 tries, 2 conversions, 2 penalties) victory over CR and FC in a thrilling battle at Nittawela Grounds.

The win ensured that Kandy regained the league title, reaffirming their status as the premier force in Sri Lanka club rugby. With this win Kandy domination continues with over 20 league wins.

At the short breather Kandy led 22/13.

Kandy had control of the game from the kick off onwards and looked a yard faster in their approach than the visitors. Their three quarter line was simply outstanding. Tarinda Ratwatte, Nigel Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera, Dinal Ekanayake, Sooriyabandara and Danushka Ranjan were simply outstanding. Shahid Zumri who came later in the initial half was rock solid in his defence. Meanwhile Dahan Wickremarachchi and Heshan Jensen too played their part along with second rower Thilina Bandara too was omnipresent.

The Red shirts was led by number 8 Lasindu Karunathilake who was 8n lightning speed on the loose ball. He was outstanding both in defence and attack. Omalka Gunaratne, Randy Silva and Mursheed Doray too played their hearts out. But ball handling let the Longdon Place club down with at least miss8ng out on 2 try scoring opportunities.

Kandy scored Soysa, Dilshad Fareed, Dinal Ekanayake (2), and Kenula Hettiarachchi. Tarinda Ratwatte played a crucial role, converting four of the tries and slotting in two penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking.

CR and FC, determined to challenge the reigning champions, responded with two tries from their powerhouse No. 8, Omalka Gunaratne. Zubair Doray successfully converted both tries and added two penalties, keeping CR within striking distance. However, Kandy’s superior game management and defensive resilience kept their opponents at bay in the second half.

With this victory, Kandy SC once again demonstrated why they are the benchmark in Sri Lankan rugby. Their blend of experience, structured play, and attacking flair ensured they retained their title in style. CR and FC showed great determination but fell short against a well-drilled Kandy outfit.

As the league coming to an end next weekend Kandy already secured the League with one more game against Havies remaining which will be played on Sunday, 16 March at Nittawela.

Referee Ishanka Abeykoon controlled the game well.

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