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Kandy SC skipper Fazil Marija avoids a tackle from Yoshitha Rajapakse of Navy
Kandy SC number 8 Buwanka Udangamuwa well held by two Navy players
By Shamseer Jaleel
Defending League and Clifford Cup champions Kandy continued their unbeaten run in the Inter-Club League when they beat Sri Lankan Navy by 29 points (2 goals, 5 penalties) to 10 points (1 goal, 1 drop goal) at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.
At halftime Kandy led 15-10. Kandy once again took time to settle down in the game while Navy played well within themselves during the first 15 minutes of the game with some powerful runs. Navy number 8 Omalka Gunaratne was outstanding in attack. He made a number of try-saving tackles which kept the powerful Kandy line from moving freely and scoring.
The three quarter line of the Sailors too was well supported by fly half Chanaka Chandimal, centre Leeke Keegale and flanker Yoshitha Rajapaksa. In forward play burly Sathya Raunathunge stood out.
Kandy’s three quarters moved the ball at every given opportunity with skipper Fazil Marija, Richard Dharmapala and Gayan Weeraratne being at their best both in attack and defence.
Kandy fullback Nigel Ratwatte played a grand game, contributing 24 points by putting over five penalties, scoring one try and being accurate with two try conversions. Kandy hooker Damith Dissanayake had a good game too, getting the better of his opposing hooker Anura Walpola who had a poor game with nothing going his way.
Kandy was ruled offside in the second minute of the game with Thilina Weerasinghe getting a penalty 45 meters along the right corner but he was not accurate with his kick. But the Sailors hit back through a beautiful three quarter move which split the Kandy defence. Leeke Keegale scored the only try for Navy with Thilina Weerasinghe adding the extra two points.
Kandy began scoring in the 13th minute of the game when Nigel Ratwatte put over a 30-meter penalty. Nigel Ratwatte, who had a field day, put over penalties for the home team in the 21st and 27th minute to take the lead 9-7 favouring the home team.
Kandy got two more penalties after their opponents collapsed the scrum and strayed offside. Both the penalties were converted by Ratwatte for a 15-7 lead. Navy, who kept on entering Kandyan territory, put over a neat drop goal from fly half Chnaka Chandimal to end the first half leading 15-10.
After the turnaround Ratwatte continued his good work by joining the three-quarter line in a sweeping move to score along the left corner. He made a difficult conversion to take the score to 22-10 in Kandy’s favour.
The last Kandyan try was scored by centre Gayan Weeraratne. Once again Ratwatte converted another difficult kick to take Kandy home 29-10. Dhanushka Perera from Navy and Kishore Jahn from Kandy were yellow-carded. The game was refereed by Irshard Carder.
