Kandy display dominance with League and Clifford Cup double

By Shamseer Jaleel

It has been a remarkable year in rugby for the Kandy Sports Club as they not only became double champions, complementing their League title with the Clifford Cup crown last weekend at the Race Course rugby grounds, but they also achieved this feat while remaining unbeaten throughout the  2015/2016 rugby season.

Though a young and energetic CR&FC came close to causing an upset, in the end it was a case of being so close yet so far for them as the upcountry club secured a 31 points (tries, 2 conversions, 4 penalties) to 28 (4 tries, 1 conversion, 2 penalties) victory, to get the better of the Colombo side for the third time (two wins in the league).

The quality of rugby was at its best as both teams battled it out in a do-or-die contest. The Red Shirts drew first blood in the second minute of the game when Jason Dissanayaka used his lightning pace to score along the left corner through an intelligent kick from teammate Tharinda Ratwatte. But Nigel Ratwatte’s two penalties gave Kandy a 6-5 lead. 

However, Kandy’s advantage was short-lived as the former Trinity College flyhalf Tharinda Ratwatte, who had a grand game, slipped through Kandy’s defence to score a try for the Longdon Place club. Prince Chamara’s penalty increased CR’s advantage to 13-6. Tharinda Ratwatte took CR further ahead through another neat penalty from 40 meters out. But Kandy, who kept on advancing into CR’s territory, scored through a penalty try to head into halftime trailing 13-16.

In the second half Nigel Ratwatte made it 16 apiece with a penalty for Kandy. CR’s sensational winger Kavindu Perera then covered nearly 30 meters to score. Tharinda added the extra points to enlarge the lead to 23-21. But Kandy’s strongly-built centre Richard Dharmapala ripped through CR’s defence to touch down and cut the deficit to two points. 

Chamara’s try took CR ahead 28-21. In the next two minutes Kandy scored the equalizer off a high ball collected by scrum half Roshan Weeraratna, who sent the ball out to Srinarth Sooriabandara who danced his way over nearly 40 meters for an excellent try to level the scores at 28-28. 

Despite Kandy’s determined efforts in attack, CR’s line was awarded a penalty but Thilina Wijesinghe was off target with his penalty attempt. But it was their experienced fullback Nigel Ratwatte who took the game out of extra time with an accurate penalty kick 45 meters out from the post to not only help his side win the game but also ensure that they remained unbeaten for the whole season.

The game was refereed by Hong Kong’s Tim Baker. 

CR&FC’s last win came in 2006 when they beat their traditional rivals Havelocks. Kandy’s Clifford Cup win runs into its 20th year with their rebirth starting in 1992 with a win over the Cops at Nittawela. They continued their winning ways in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016. 

Kandy was coached by former Trinity, Sri Lanka Number 8 and Fifteens skipper Sean Wijesinghe and well supported by Nalaka Weerakody and Saliya Kumara. Former Isipathana player Kapila Silva was the Manager of the outfit with Lasantha Wijesuriya, the Rugby Chairman, operating under President Udaya Balasuriya. The club had Cargills as their main sponsors while Etisalat and Singer were their co-sponsors.

Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya