Kandy down Havelocks SC 36-6

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

Defending champion Kandy Sports Club fired their cylinder only in the closing stages of the game to score a 36 points (3 goals, 3 tries) to 6 (2 penalties) win over Havelock Sports Club in their Caltex League rugby tournament match played at the Nittawela rugby stadium in Kandy yesterday at half time Kandy led 12-3.

It was a terrific game in which no quarter was asked nor given and both teams gave out their best.

A little frayed tempers was seen and in the 4th minute play Kandy’s hooker Anuranga Walpola and Havelock centre Zakier Badurdeen were engaged in a bout of fisticuffs and referee Nizam Jamaldeen did not hesitate to send both players to ‘Sin fin’ to control situation from further aggravating.

The youthful Havelocks side did not deserve to lose by such a big margin as they contained the strong Kandy side from going on a scoring spree.

The forwards led by no 8 Rajiv Ganapathy did a fine job and fitness appeared to be their forte. They tackled the Kandy line hard and low and did not allow them to run. Ganapathy in particular did some fine breaks.

For Kandy their winger Sameera Silva had a grand game scoring 3 tries. He had the speed of a panther, so did co-winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe and Centre Pradeep Liyanage. No. 8 Imran Bisthamin too put up a power packed performance steady in both attack and defence.

With the game barely a minute old a Kandy player was spotted off and Havelocks stand off Samantha Lakshan put over a 35 metre penalty to put the Park Club ahead to lead 3-0.

In the 12th minute an attempted drop goal by Havelock stand off Samantha Lakshan was smothered by Kandy’s stand Fazil Marija who collected the ball and ran nearly 40 metres before sending winger Sameera Silva to score mid left. Full back Radhika Hettiarachchi failed to add the extra points. Kandy 5-3.

In the 31st minute of play Kandy scored again when centre Sajith Mallikarachchi slipped a pass to Fazil Marija who ran about 25 metres to send Sameera Silva to touch down under the post. Hettiarachchi added the extra points. Kandy 12-3.

During this period Havelocks fly half Samantha Lakshan missed two penalties with one of them hitting the posts and rolling into the in-goal era.

In the 7th minute of second half a kick ahead by Samantha Lakshan was collected by Kandy’s full back Hettiarachchi who punted ahead and charged on a Havies defender who attempted to collect the grabber. With the ball slipping out Kandy’s winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe collected the loose ball and ran 40 metres to score mid right. Hettiarachchi failed to add the extra points and Kandy led 17-3.

In the 35th minute Jayasinghe collected the loose ball and ran through at least five defenders to score for right. Hettiarachchi failed to add the extra points. Kandy 22-3. In the 39th minute a scrum close to Havies line saw scrum half Saliya Kumara sending a quick pass to flanker Sean Wijesinghe who dived over to score mid right. Full back Radhika added the extra points in semi darkness for Kandy to lead 29-6.

A penalty by Havelocks Samantha Lakshan reduced Kandy’s lead.

During injury time Kandy’s centre Pradeep Liyanage made a blazing 40 metre run and when challenged sling a pass to Sameera Silva who slipped tackles to score under the post. Saliya Kumara added the extra points to give what looked a comfortable win for Kandy.

Referee Nizam Jamaldeen.