Six in a row for unbeaten Kandy

Shehan Pathirana breaks through with support coming from Nigel and Tharinda

By Shamseer Jaleel

• Kandy SC 40 points
• Police SC 24 points

Unbeaten Kandy Sports Club continued their dominance in local rugby when they outplayed Police Sports Club by 40 points (6 tries, 5 conversions) to 24 points (3 tries, 3 conversions, 1 penalty) win at the Nittawela rugby Stadium yesterday.

Kandy led 19/17 at the short 

breather.

As expected the game was played at a hectic pace with both teams dishing out quality rugby in front of packed house at Nittawela. Kandy prevailed with superior playing plus their maturity and decision making took them through to win the League for sixth year in tandem. For Kandy SC their skipper, Nigel Ratwatte, Tharinda Ratwatte, Buwanaka Udangamuwa, Lasitha Attangoda and Janith Chandimal stood out. There was hardly any difference between the two top sides but in the last 10 minutes fitness proved major difference with Kandy standing out. Police cracked under pressure going down from 24/26 to concede two more converted tries for the home team. 

Kandy drew first blood in the two minutes of the game through Shehan Pathirana try but Police hit back soon afterwards through Rasith Silva try and Yohan Peiris conversion. One more Yohan Peiris penalty took the Cops in to a good lead 10/5. But Kandy hit back as usual through lightning fast Kavindu Perera and Danushka Dyan try. Police replied through Heshan Fernando try just before the breather. Janith Chandimal added the extras.

After the turn around Kandy scored through Roshan Weeraratne. Tharinda Ratwatte beautifully converted the try. Police playing good rugby through their forwards scored through Lahiru Pavithra. Janith Chandimal added the extras to cut the deficit to 2 points as Kandy led 26/24. Replacement second rower and former Antonian and national youth player, Mohamed Shabeer foxed the Police defence with a try. Tharinda Ratwatte converted from a difficult angle. There was time for one Kandy try through the hard working skipper, Nigel Ratwatte who played carrying an injury scored a superb try. Tharinda Ratwatte added the extras to safe keep the league for the sixth year in tandem though the super 4 will be played next week will not change the results.

Referee Priyantha Gunaratne

Kandy will play the 4th finishing team in the league in the Supr4 next weekend at home.