Kandy dominate local rugby

By Shamseer Jaleel

Kandy Sports Club, the defending League champions, continued their fine form and their dominance in local rugby continued in tandem. There were two teams ahead of them after the initial round. Havies and Navy always provided top class rugby were handed off by Kandy who got in to top form in the later half. Kandy’s success hugely was behind their players conduct on field with some fine team work. Their commitment was great as they made a bold come-back in the second round.

Second string Kandy outclass CH

Kandy SC =59 points

CH & FC=3 points

Kandy opted to give opportunity and exposure for their hardworking lads who were on the bench most part of the season. They placed nearly 10 players from their reserve bench.

Pathirana,Lavanga, DyanSooriyabandara tries and Jamaldeen conversions took them to a 26/3 lead with ShamlyBurahputting over CH & FC penalty.

Second half it was one way traffic again when Kandy broke free through Pathirana, Wilwara (2).Sooriyabandara’s second try gave Kandy a half a century lead. But Lavanga Perera was hungrier as he stayed out on the bench almost the entire and season scored his second try to win the match for his team 59/3

 CR edge out Police

CR & FC =23 points

Police =22 points

Two back-to-back tries put the Cops on the back foot sooner than later with the kickoff of the game. Two former Kandy school boys, Radeesha Senaratne (try) and Randles Hill school place kicker (Sansoni) conversion equalised the scored with 10 apiece. It was tough to keep winger Kavindu Perera off action as he touched down to take the lead 17/10.But one try each from Joel of CR and Radheesha of Police took the scores to 22/15 at the breather.

Police hit back in the second half with some power play to keep the Red Shirts caged in their own half. RadeeshaSeneviratne who had a grand game scored once more for Sansoni to add the extras. But Nalin Kumara penalty did the damage for the Cops when they edged them out 23/22 in a tensed thriller.

 Havies edge out the Sailors

Havelocks =36 points

Navy=28 points

Havies maintained their runner-up position in the league thanks to a hat trick of tries by the former Peterite, Nishon Perera to go past the sailors. Both teams dished out fast running rugby with the Park Club showing promising moves which the Sailors did not have an answer.

Air Force outclass Army

Air Force =43 points

Army =26 points

Air Force continued their good season by ending number 5 with another win when they outplayed the Solders 43/26.Kandy, displaying a superlative performance in their final game of the season, beat CH&FC 59-3 at the Racecourse grounds in Colombo on Saturday.  Kandy skipper Roshan Weerarathne received the Dialog Rugby League trophy from Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera and Dialog Axiata Plc Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe. Dialog Axiata Plc Group Chief Marketing Officer Amali Nanayakkara and Sri Lanka Rugby Vice President Lasitha Gunaratne were also present - Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya