Nippon Inter-Club Rugby League 2022/2023 Close call for Kandy SC

• Kandy SC 21 points
• Navy SC 18 points

By Shamseer Jaleel at Nittawela

Defending League Champions Kandy Sports Club pulled off another hard-fought win in their Nippon Rugby League encounter this time over Sri Lanka Navy SC by 21 points (3 tries, 3 conversions) to 18 Points (2 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty, 1 drop goal) at Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.

At the short breather Kandy led 14/8.

Both teams dished out good rugby though the ground conditions were very tough for ball handling. Navy opted to keep the ball with their three-quarter line while Kandy played with their fresh set of forwards who dominated with the ball.

For Kandy, Praveen Charles was omnipresent having a great outing both in defence as well in attack plus Yakoob Ali too stood out for the Central Hills team. Meanwhile Tharinda Ratwatte had a good game in the kicking department putting over three tough conversions which he collected six vital points for Kandy SC.

Meanwhile for the Sailors, Radheesha Seneviratne, Musheen Faleel and Samuel Maduwantha played their hearts out for the Welisara outfit.

Samuel Maduwantha missed a penalty kick in the seventh minute of the game. In the 16th minute of the game, Kandy SC drew first blood through a sweeping three-quarter move when Dhanushka Ranjan scored right corner flag. Tharinda Ratwatte did a good conversion.

Few minutes later, Kandy SC scored their second try through a forward’s rush which ended in their hooker Uchithra Jayasuriya touching down. Tharinda Ratwatte converted the left corner flag try. Navy reduced the lead through Samuel Maduwantha drop goal. Navy reduced the Kandy lead further through their hooker Pulasthi Dissanayake try.

After the short breather, Samuel Maduwantha put over a penalty to reduce the deficit to 3 points. But Kandy who had other ideas touched down through their full back Damian Ratwatte. Tharinda Ratwatte who had a great kicking game converted his third kick at goal. The sailors who never gave up fought back through a fine try by Radheesha Seneviratne. Maduwantha added the extras.

Referee Ishanka Abeykoon had a good control over the game.

Kandy will need to travel to Colombo the next three weekend to play Police SC, CH and FC and Havelock SC.