Kandy ground Air Force

Kandy Prop forward Piyumal Manchanayake scores a try​

Kandy hooker Damith Dissanayake on the attack​

Kandy replacement winger Dhanushka Dyan on the attack

By Shamzeer Jaleel

Kandy continued their unbeaten run in the inter-club league when they trounced Sri Lankan Air Force 63 points (6 goals, 3 tries, 2 penalties) to 12 points (4 penalties) in their first round encounter, which concluded at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.

At halftime Kandy led 32-6. Kandy settled well after 10 minutes of play with some attacking moves. But it was the Airmen who played well with some attacking rugby in the first ten minutes of the game. However, they lacked the finishing skills and failed to convert their territorial advantage into points. Kandy started to dominate scrums and line-outs. Their three quarters looked threatening in their swift moves. Fullback Arshard Jamaldeen joined the line most of the time on attack. Fly Half Fazil Marija, Gayan Weeraratne, Richard Dharmapala, Sayuru Anthony and Jamaladeen played their hearts out for the home team.

In the 10th minute of the game Jamaldeen was on target with a 35-meter penalty when the Air Force backs were caught off side. Two minutes later Jamaldeen was on a target with another penalty when the visitors were caught off side. 

Kandy scored their first try through lanky flanker Sayura Anthony through a forwards’ rush. Jamaldeen, who had a grand outing, was on target with the conversion to take a 13-0 lead. Air Force fullback Nuwan Perera reduced the lead with a 30-meter penalty. Then Richard Dharmapala dummied his way for a dandy try with Jamaldeen adding the extra two points. In the 28th minute of the game Nuwan Perera was on target with a penalty for the visitors to reduce the deficit to 20-6. Before the short whistle Sayuru Anthony and Pumal Manjanayake scored a try a piece which gave Kandy a comfortable 32-6 lead.

After the turnaround Kandy scored through Gayan Weeraratne, Damith Dissanayake, Danushka Dyan and Heshan Kalhara (2). Jamaldeen converted one while replacement fullback Thilina Wijesinghe converted two of them. For the visitors Nuwan Perera put over two penalties in the second half. Two Air Force players Ranil Medagedera and Krishan Soorya were yellow-carded while for Kandy Tharindu Chanaka was a naughty boy and was punished with a yellow card.

The Chief Guest was former Kandy Captain and former Senior Vice President Emil Van Der Pooten.

The game was refereed by Priyantha Gunaratne. The touch judges were Arnua Rankothge and Deepal Punyaratne. The match commissioner was Tuan Dole. Kandy will be tested to the maximum when they travel down to Colombo to meet Police on 5 December at Police Park.