Kandy has it easy at Nittawela
It was another productive outing for the champion Kandy SC team as they beat Air Force by 55 points (5 goals, 3 tries and a penalty try) to13 (2 penalties and a penalty try) at a damp Nittawela Stadium.
At the break, the winners were ahead at 24-6.
Maybe the bleak conditions and a bit of drizzle prevented Kandy from operating at full throttle. It wasn’t a perfect ‘ten’ by Weeraratne’s team. More likely, Kandy played at about 70 per cent of their free-throwing game.
The Air Force played with plenty of spirit and verve at times in the first half. They moved the ball around with short, quick passes and headed for the line. But the defence came around and prevented the indignity. On a couple of occasions Gimhana Silva, the flanker, broke through and made about 35 metres before he was brought down. The Airmen failed to be there in numbers to carry the move through.
Kandy’s outsides punished the defence for leaving a large gap on the left — three tries resulted when the voracious backs attacked and flung the ball out for a player to go over untouched deep left.
The game was hardly six minutes old when lock Dimitri Wijetunga went over off a line out, despite close attention paid to him by two or three defenders.
Air Force did some attacking at this stage. Tempers also flared as one or two players from either side went for each other. Ranjan put his team back on track by touching down for Ratwatte to convert (12-0).
Dharmapala added a try next. The Kandy outsides were catching, passing and racing away as though it were a practice session. Air Force did bring off some rousing tackles. But, the opposing players were too skilled and experienced to be subdued for long.
Full back Rumesh Ramdas caught a high ball and went through the defence. But once again the move lacked finish. Gayantha Iddamalgoda then converted two penalties to cut the deficit. Marija scored his first try when he brushed off two half-hearted tackles and touched down.
The suspect defence was punished by Kandy, when once again when off one of their sweeping advances Wilwara was given a long pass to go over. Thilina Wijesinghe, too found that coast was clear, touched down and converted (36-6).
Sooriyabandara got his boot to the ball, followed up and just managed to plump the ball down as a defender, appeared. Gayan Dhanushka went over for Kandy’s final try. An Air Force player failed to touch down in defence and paid the penalty.
It wasn’t top draw stuff but Kandy can be happy that their attacking force has been doing well and seem to be well-primed for next week’s CR game in Colombo. That will be the real test for the champions. CR gave Kandy a couple of tough games over the last two years, it must be said.
Referee – Ajith Priyantha.