Confident Kandy lads grab another opportunity
Kandy won yet another game – Pic by Ranjith Perera”]
Kandy SC withstood some brave attempts by the Air Force to take the game to them and eventually triumphed by 60 points (5 goals, 5 tries) to 16 (1 goal, 3 penalties) in their Dialog Division ‘A’ Rugby League second round match played at Ratmalana yesterday.
Air Force were certainly not disgraced. At the start of the game and, especially, towards the end, they kept going for the line. They succeeded a few minutes before the end when scrum half Dayantha Iddamalgoda chipped, charged, collected and touched down. This try was converted by flyhalf Chamath Fernando.
In the first half the Airmen were no match for Kandys sturdy forwards. But full marks to them for the guts they displayed in repeatedly going at the Kandy defence. They came up against a Kandy defence that was always alert and well-high impregnable.
Much against the run of play Kandy opened their account with a try by Vishwamithra Jayasinghe who finished off a good move by the back division. The backs were in business again shortly after.
Lavanga Perera’s pass to Dhanushka Dayan popped out of his hand and into Fazil Marija’s. The flyhalf duly went over and Nigel Ratwatte converted (12-0).
Roshan Weeraratne and Kishore Jehan scored the next two tries, both of which were put over by Ratwatte. Jayasinghe got his second touchdown when he breezed through the middle, brushed off a couple of tackles and went over.
At halftime, the score was 31-9. A Kandy player picked up and went over untouched (38-9). Jayasinghe got his third and final try for the evening when he finished a smart move by the back division. This was goaled by Thilina Wijesinghe who had come on in the second half (45-9).
Kandy’s support play was excellent. A player seemingly appeared from nowhere to grab the ball and carry on the movement. Marija was injured and in his absence, the Kandy backs lost a little bit zip and smartness.
Suhiru Anthony’s unconverted try took the tally to 55-9. Thilina Wijesinghe, the fullback, scored a dandy try when he ran through from about 35 yards out and side stepped his way.
The Air Force forwards played a good game. Sadly, their best efforts were nullified by the outsiders who, honest tries they were, did not have the tactical nous to outwit the defence.
Referee – Aruna
Rankothge