Kandy show their class

Dialog Clifford Cup 

By Shamseer Jaleel

Kandy kicked off their campaign at the Clifford Cup 2018 knockout rugby tournament in grand style when they outclassed Sri Lanka Air Force 53 points (5 goals, 3 tries, 1 penalty) to 14 points (2 goals) at the Trinity College Rugby Stadium in Pallekelle last weekend.

At halftime Kandy led 26-0. Kandy, playing without star players Sayuru Anthony, Buwanka Udangamuwa, Anurudha Wilwara, Roshan Weeraratne, Nigel Ratwatte and Jason Dissanayake, still looked a yard faster than their opponents. On attack they split the Air Force outfit’s defence on multiple occasions. In forwards play Shehan Pathirana, Yakoob Ali and Heshan Kalhara stood out. In three-quarter play Dhanushkha Ranjan, Fazil Marija and Richard Dharmapala were at their peak with fullback Thilina Wijesinghe getting a full 80 minutes in and playing well by joining the line whenever Kandy was on the attack.

Air Force for their part played well, defending most of the game while on the attack they did the best they could but hardly tried to gain territorial advantage through kicks. They had Chathura Seneviratne and Iddamalgoda in their line-up but still preferred to work their three-quarter line. It was a tough job against a rock solid Kandy three quarter line which stood firm on most occasions.

Shehan Pathirana broke free, opening the try-scoring for Kandy in the fifth minute of the game. Fullback Thilina Wijesinghe added the extras. Kandy’s Ranjan scored next, dummying his way through Air Force’s defence before handing the ball off to Thilina to convert and increase the lead to 14-0. 

Shehan Pathirana scored his second try, with most of the hard work done by scrum half Sooriyabandara, who covered nearly 40 metres before passing it out to Shehan. Thilina’s kicking accuracy continued. Kandy had time for one more try from Richard to enter halftime up 26-0. After the turnaround, Richard scored his second try of the match and Thilina added his first penalty to take the score to 34-0. Air Force, who never gave up, scored through Krishan with Charith Seneviratne converting. Yakoob Ali, who had a grand game, scored his first try through a powerful forwards rush and then Oshan Perera and Vishwamithra Jayasinghe added their names to the score sheet. 

Former Antonian Seelagama scored his first try in front of the Kandy crowd with Charith Seneviratne being accurate once more. The referee for the game was P. Weeranga.

Kandy will meet CR&FC at the same venue on 21 February in the second semifinal encounter. 

Navy edge out Cops

The Navy Sports Club edged out Police SC by 36 points (4 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) to 28 points (4 goals) in their Dialog Clifford Cup quarterfinal match played at Race Course grounds.

The winners led 17-14 at halftime.

For Navy, their tries were scored by hooker Dulanjana Wijesinghe (two), prop forward Charith Silva, scrumhalf Harsha Maduranga and fullback Thilina Weerasinghe.

Four conversions and one penalty were converted by Thilina Weerasinghe. For the Cops, their tries were scored by Suranga Kasun (2), Wajeed Fahmy and Kavinda Jayasundara with Sandesh Jayawickrama putting over all of them.

CR outplay CH

CR&FC pulled off a magnificent victory, probably the first shock of the Clifford Cup 2018, when they ousted a much-fancied CH&FC outfit by 46 points (4 goals, 3 tries, 1 penalty) to 29 points (3 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) at Racecourse grounds.

At halftime the Red Shirts led 22-15. Chanaka Chandimal (2), Joel Perera (2), Reza Rafaideen, Kavindu Perera with Tharinda Ratwatte added the extra points plus a penalty kick for the Red Shirts. Meanwhile, CH’s tries were scored by Muthuthanthri (2) and Anurada Herath (2) with Samuel Maduwantha adding eight points through flawless try conversions. 

Havies through 

to semifinals

Havelocks SC booked their semifinal berth by beating Army SC 39 points (3 goals, 3 tries, 1 penalty) to 20 points (1 goal, 2 tries, 1 penalty) at Police Park.

At halftime the Park Club led 19-10. Havies will now meet Navy SC tomorrow at the Racecourse grounds in the first semifinal encounter. The finals will be played on 25 February.