Kandy outclass Air Force

Kandy Prop Forward Yakoob Ali on his way to score the first try for Kandy

Text and pix by Shamseer Jaleel 

Kandy SC continued their winning form in the Inter Club League rugby tournament when they outclassed Sri Lanka Air Force by a 52 points (eight tries, six conversions) to 22 points (4 tries, 1 conversion) win at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.

At the short breather, Kandy led 38/5.

Kandy played their usual form of open and attacking rugby when they accounted for six first-half tries where the visitors could reply only with one of them. Kandy, who opted to rest their best players, Danushka Ranjan and Heshan Kalhara, gave opportunity for Oshan Perera and former Antonian and national youth player Mohamed Shabeer. 

For Kandy, as usual, Buwanaka Ddangamuwa, Anurudha Wilwara, Nigel Ratwatte, and Yakoob Ali stood for the Kandy outfit with some fine attacking moves. Their number eight, Buwanka Udangamuwa, stood out in both defence as well in attack.

Air Force, who played well in patches, did come back but briefly in the latter half. They dominated proceedings for about 20 minutes in the latter half, attacking from the Kandy half where they were able to touch down on three occasions, but they lacked continuity in their game. Prop Forward, Praveen Charles, Iddamalgoda and Nuwan Perera were on top of their games.

Kandy drew first blood when their Hooker-Prop Forward Yakoob Ali touched down. Thilina Wijesinghe added the extras. Kandy scored through Wilwara (2), Vishwamithra (2) and Nigel Ratwatte in the initial half. Thilina converted another three of them at take the short breather at 38/5.

After the turn around, Kandy scored two more tries through Buwanka Udangamuwa and Thilina Wijesinghe while the visitors touched down thrice through Praveen Charles, Parakrama Ratnayake and Nuwan Perera. Iddamalgoda converted one of them.

Referee Priya Suranga 

Kandy will host Army SC on 12 January at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium.

CH edge out Navy