Kandy rampage regardless, drown Havelocks under lights
Champions are down, but seldom out. Kandy SC proved the truth of that by subduing the Havelocks by 20 points (1 goal, 2 tries, 1 penalty) to 9 (3 penalties), under lights at the Park.
It wasn’t plain sailing by any means. The Havies were a rugged, determined outfit that was not prepared to play second fiddle even to a team as powerful as Kandy. However, the crucial difference was that the Kandy back division, when it had possession, moved with startling speed and efficiency.
It was not that their Havies counterparts were lacking in skills. But, clearly, the Kandy backs led by Richard Dharmapala were almost unstoppable in full flight.
There was drama at the start. Dharmapala, latterly, the ace in Kandy’s pack, was sin-binned. The Havies worked their way into Kandy’s 22, but were penalised. Kandy then took over and made an assault on the Havies line. But a dropped pass stalled them.
Havelocks entered the Kandy 22 once more thanks to a penalty. A lineout ensued, but Kandy was blown up and Riza Mubarak, the fullback, gratefully accepted the 20-yard penalty mid right for the first score of the match.
A short while later, flyhalf Dulaj Perera made it 6-0 for his team by converting a penalty from 50 yards out. The situation was about to get out of hand. Stung to the quick, Fazil Marija, who was playing with a lot of zest in this key game, dummied and sent Dharmapala on his way. But the Havies defenders recovered in time to ward off the danger.
There was an obvious difference in styles of play at this stage. Kandy was playing to their strength, moving the ball this way and that. Dulaj Perera put the ball up in the air and gained long touch, hoping to hone in on Kandy’s 22. In the 21st minute, the Havies lost out on a 40-metre penalty which, if successful, could have heaped more pressure on Kandy.
Ratwatte did not succeed with a 40-metre penalty, deep right. The ball just dipped under the bar. This was to be repeated by the Havies a little later. Careless play by Kandy almost culminated in a try. But Marija saved the situation by making a long clearance.
Kandy used the rolling maul twice late in the first half, and it was noticeable that the Havies didn’t seem to like the tactic. The second half saw it being used more by Kandy. Almost on the stroke of the halftime, Ratwatte put over a 35-metre penalty to cut the deficit, 6-3.
If the first half was shared, Kandy certainly dominated the second. The face that they touched down thrice in this half is ample proof of that. Kandy was varying the pattern of play, using short, crisp passes, as well as throwing in the rolling maul. Then came the decisive moment. Kandy was there or thereabouts, raiding the goal-line, when Yaqoob Ali got the first try of the match. Ratwatte converted to give Kandy the lead for the first time, 10-6.
Kandy’s attacks came fast and furious. A swift pass slung out to the wing saw Nigel Ratwatte latch on and go over. He failed with the conversion (15-6). Reeza Mubarak arrowed a 40-metre penalty through the uprights to make it 15-9.
The Havies made a beautiful move with two players exchanging passes and gaining around 40 metres before the defence recovered. Not throwing in the towel, the Havelocks tried a few tricks in the book to go over. But the vital pass was dropped just short of the line, and Thilina Wijesinghe made a long clearance.
Kandy’s third try came about seconds before the long whistle. This time it was the ubiquitous Dharmapala who went over. Kandy had a try disallowed. The Havies, or about half of the team, had stopped playing as the touch judge had raised the flag. Reference was made to the TMO who upheld the touch judge’s decision.
What this game showed was that Kandy is more or less invincible. They have opened up a big lead and there is a sense of deja vu about the remaining matches.
It was disheartening in the extreme to see many empty seats when the two best teams were battling it out tooth and nail.
Referee – Roshan Fernando