Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Monday, 30 January 2023 00:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Mithu Hapugoda played his 100th game for Havies
Nigel Ratwatte is about to kick with Tharinda off for the chase
By Shamseer Jaleel
Unbeaten defending league champions, Kandy Sports Club settled very early in the first half to have a clear 22/3 lead at the short breather and went on to beat the Havies 35/15 at Havelock Park last weekend in one of the much looked forward Nippon Rugby Inter Club League rugby encounters.
It was simply amazing rugby displayed by the defending champions playing their best game this season after having some scrappy six outings but still got the better of all to remain unbeaten after round 1.
Kandy three quarters had ample space created by them and Havies did not have any answer for their usual lightning-fast moves. Tharinda Ratwatte was a class apart contributing 23 points out of the 35 Kandy received. Kavindu Perera, Nigel Ratwatte and Srinarth Sooriyabandara all were at their peak at the correct time while the return of skipper Damith Dissanayake and ever green Praveen Charles chipped in with their usual forward’s display.
Havelocks SC woke up late in the second half and displayed good rugby scoring 12 points but the lead Kandy created was far too much for a bounce back.
Kandy drew first blood early in the second minute of the game through dashing try and conversion by Tharinda Ratwatte who was on target with the kick at goal as well. The Park Club got off to a start through a penalty put over by Chanka Chandimal 35 meters out. But Kandy did not allow Havies to make comeback when nippy Srinarth Sooriyabandara playing as full back created ample pace to touched down under the posts.
Tharinda was on target to take the scores to 14/3 favoring the Up-Country club. Second rower, Thilina Bandara touched down next for Kandy. Tharinda who missed the conversion put over a penalty just before the short breather to take 19 points lead.
Tharinda Ratwatte who had a magnificent first half started the second with grand fashion when he touched down for a bonus point try for Kandy. It took almost 50 minutes for Havies to fire all cylinders in front of a half-packed ground with Shena Diaz touching down for them. Sandesh Jayawickrema was on target with the kick at goal. Havies followed with another try by Dinupa Seneviratne try. Two late Tharinda Ratwatte penalties took Kandy further ahead to 35 points.
It was a gate crash for Mithun Hapugoda’s 100th game which Kandy won and completing a clean sheet, looking forward for CR and Havies for a long journey to Kandy while they will commence with a game against the Sailors at Welisara in round 2 Super-4 Cup segment.
The game which had many yellow card offences by both teams did not affect Referee Gihan Yatawara who did a grand job with the whistle.
