Kandy continue winning streak, beat CR 45-26

Diluksha Dange avaids a CR tackle 

By Shamseer Jaleel

Kandy Sports Club continued their winning streak when they outplayed CR and FC by 45 points (7 tries, 5 conversions) to 26 points (3 tries, 2 conversions, 1 penalty try) win in their Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) conducted Inter Club rugby encounter which concluded at Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.

At the short breather Kandy led 33/12.

The game was played at a hectic speed with Kandy three quarters dominating proceedings. It was Buddima Piyarathna who had a grand game touching down 4 tries and also his defense too was rock solid. He was well supported by Tharinda Ratwatte, Srinarth Sooriyabandara and Jason Dissanayake who played their hearts out.  Meanwhile the Red Shirts forwards too had a grand outing in forwards play. They scored almost three of their tries through forwards rush where the Kandy forwards were caught all over without answers.

Kandy drew first blood in the fourth minute of the game through a sweeping three quarter move when Buddhima Piyarathna touched down. Tharinda Ratwatte added the extra 2 points. CR scored their first try through a forward’s rush where Thisila Karunathilake touched down. Mursheed Doray missed the conversion. Then Kandy scored two quick tries through Buddhima Piyarathna and Tharinda Ratwatte to take the scores at 19/5. 

Just on time for the short breather Tharinda Ratwatte try and conversion added 7 points for the Up-Country outfit. CR reduced the gap through Imalka Ariyapala try and Mursheed Doray conversion. But in the next minute Buddhima Piyarathna ran circles around CR defense covering more than 75 meters to touch down.

After the breather both sides played a slow-paced game. During this half Kandy scored their tries through Jason Dissanayake and Buddhima Piyarathne. One of them was converted by Tharinda Ratwatte who contributed 20 points in the game. 

For the Red Shirts there second half try was scored by their hooker, Supun Warunakulasuriya with Navidu Madushan added the extras. The young CR outfits though beaten convincingly never gave up and forced play in to Kandy territory and forcing error by the Kandy team forwards which resulted in a penalty try for them.

Referee Aaqil Jamaldeen had a grand game.

Two unbeaten teams in the League Kandy SC and Havelock SC will clash in their next encounter at Nittawela next Sunday.

Srinarth Sooriyabandara of Kandy SC