Kandy clear another hurdle
The CR&FC gave it their all. But when it came to the crunch, the awesome display by Kandy’s back division ensured that the champions had overcome another hurdle, albeit a tough one.
Kandy triumphed by 32 points (2 goals, 3 tries and a drop goal) to 27 (2 goals, 2 tries and a penalty) after having taken a commanding 24-8 lead at half time.
Kandy was in red hot form at the start, invading CR territory and making all the plays. CR had not settled down and they made a couple of mistakes which enabled Kandy to put points on the board. The ball was moved to the left wing and hooker Ganuka Dissanaike went over with the tackle. Wijesinghe converted (7-0).
Flanker Shehan Pathirana extended the lead when he caught the ball in a line out five yards away and breezed through for an unconverted try (12-0). Tarindu Ratwatte who was injured late in the first half, converted a penalty for CR’s first points.
Kavindu de Costa scored arguably the best try when he caught the ball inside his half and ran around sixty yards diagonally to touch down in the left corner. Ratwatte failed to add the points (12-8).
A high ball was not properly controlled and this enabled Kandy to keep play in the CR 22 . Kandy used their backs and Ranjan put the finishing touches. Wijesinghe made the score (19-8).
A grubber from Thilina Wijesinghe was used by the backs for Kandy’s next try. The handling was delightful and the backing up excellent. Ranjan was able to cut through a swarm of defenders and go over for an unconverted try.
A good break by Thilina Wijesinghe (who had a fine game in attack) led to Kandy’s next try.
Kandy seemed to take their foot off the peddle midway in the second half. At this point CR seemed hell-bent on capitalizing. There were several well-coordinated moves. Finally Tariq Salih was able to find a gap and sneak through. De Costa’s conversion meant that Kandy now led 29-15. CR was afire, knowing that another scoring effort would bring them parity. 
At this point when emotions ran high among both players and spectators, Tilina Wijesinghe found himself in front of the posts but thirty yards away. Cool as cucumber he slapped the ball over the bar.
That was the killer blow, as it meant that at 32-22 CR had to make two scoring efforts.
CR did not stop trying. Omalka Gunaratne who fought hard for his team right through made a beautiful off load. This was caught by the substitute full back Rehan de Silva who scored. The conversion failed. It didn’t matter as Dinka Pieris blew for full time.
What this game showed was that Kandy was prepared to go through hell-fire to preserve their title hopes. CR threw everything at them but Kandy withstood most of the pressure and then created some of their own.
