Kandy ends Havelocks’ unbeaten run

Kandy's Richard Dharmapala makes a powerful run

By Shamseer Jaleel 

In a blockbuster game of rugby, defending league and Clifford Cup champions Kandy placed a full stop on Havelocks’ unbeaten run in the league beating them by 39 points (6 tries,3 conversions, 1 penalty) to 30 points (3 tries, 3 conversions, 3 penalties) at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.

At halftime the winners led 22-13.

The game was played at a hectic pace with both sides opting to play with their heavier sets of forwards. For Havelocks, Sudharshan Muthuthanthri played a perfect forwards game. He was excellent in attack and his cover tackles kept Kandy from moving freely. For the park club, Hirantha Perera, Kevin Dixon and Dulaj Perera played well in attack and defence.

For Kandy as usual their three quarter line was threatening in its moves. They played without the injured Fazil Marija, whose place was taken over by Arshard Jamaldeen. Both Dhanushka Ranjan and Richard Dharmapala made some powerful breaks. They were well supported by winger Viswamithra Jayasinghe. Fullback Thilina Wijesinghe did not have a great game. His defence was tested fully and he failed to collect a high ball which resulted in a try for Havies. Among the forwards, Kandy’s Number 8 Buwanka Udangamuwa was rock solid in defence and in attack, with more than one player required to bring him down.

Dulaj Perera missed an early penalty for Havelocks in the seventh minute but was on target three minutes later with another kick. But Kandy hit back soon through a sweeping three quarter move which ended up with centre Gayan Weeraratne touching down. Wijesinghe failed to convert it. 

Dulaj Perera put Havelocks ahead with another penalty but Wijesinghe replied with one of his own for Kandy to take an 8-6 lead. Then came another three quarter move where the game went through several phases before lightning quick winger Vishwamithra Jayasinghe touched down in a flash. Wijesinghe was on target with the conversion. Then Wijesinghe failed to collect a high ball which ended in the park club centre Nishon Perera darting across the field to touch down under the posts for Perera to add the extra two points to narrow the gap to 15-13. 

Then Havelocks lost their grip on the game when Sharo Fernando was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes by the referee. Kandy took advantage of the situation and scored through skipper Roshan Weeraratne. Wijesinghe added the extra two points to send the game into halftime with the home team up 22-13.

After the turnaround Kandy scored through Mohamed Ali, Attanagoda and Richard Dharmapala. For Havelocks tries were scored by Liston Flatom and Nishon Perera. Dulaj Perera put over a penalty. Kandy not only won this game but scored a bonus point, keeping their hopes alive to keep the cup at their clubhouse in Nittawela. 

The game was refereed by Priyantha Gunaratne. The Assistant Referees were Dinka Peiris and Jiffry Shaheed. The Match Commissioner was Tuna Dole while the TMO was Anil Jayasinghe. After the completion of round one both Havies and Navy dropped one game each while Kandy dropped two of them. Havelocks continue to hold top position in the league followed by Navy and Kandy.