Kandy edges out Air Force

Action at Kandy SC vs Air Force encounter

 Kavindu Perera scores for Kandy

Unbeaten League champions Kandy Sports Club continued their winning ways when they edged out Sri Lanka Air Force by 24 points (4 tries, 2 conversions) to 18 points (2 tries, 1 conversion, 2 penalties) in their Nippon Paint Inter Club Rugby league encounter which took place at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium last weekend.

At the short breather winners led 12/6.

It was a pathetic display by Kandy as a champion side they never looked like one. Unlike other home matches, the stadium too was not filled even to half capacity. The home team made number of handling errors in both halves. They hardly found touch for their good work done by the young forwards and should call them lucky to pull it off in the end.

Meanwhile Air Force played their hearts out and took better shares in line outs but in scrums lacked coordination. Meanwhile their ball retention too was very good as their ball handling. Their fitness level too was at peak, but to beat the experienced Kandy three quarter line they needed a miracle to happen.

Nuwan Perera put the Air Force to an early lead in the fourth minute of the game through a 25-meter penalty. 10 minutes later Nuwan Perera missed a similar penalty but soon Kandy replied through a try by Tharinda Ratwatte who foxed the Air Force three quarter line. He made the conversion to take the lead 7/3. 

In another sweeping three quarter move Lavanga Perera caught the visitors off guard and dashed through Air Force defence to touch down. 5 minutes later Nuwan Perera reduced the lead with a 30-meter penalty for the visitors to take the short breather at 6/12 trailing by 6 points.

After the turnaround and many stoppages by referee Gihan Yatawara who too lost control of the game, Kavindu Perera and Dinal Ekanayake scored a try each for Kandy with Tharinda Ratwatte was on target with one of the conversions. Meanwhile Kalana Chamoditha and Gayantha Iddamalgoda scored for the Air Force. Nuwan Perera was on target with one conversion. (SJ)