CH pull down Kandy in Maduwantha show
This was the second time that defending champions Kandy SC suffered a defeat in the ongoing season. Before CH beat them yesterday, Army travelled to Nittawela to record a stunning win - Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
It is ironic that a product of Kandy should play a major role in a decisive defeat of the champions with a stellar performance. Former Antonian Samuel Maduwantha threw in his lot with the CH as the Kandy scouts did not pick him. He too was not interested as Kandy had a settled place kicker.
Yesterday Maduwantha accounted for eighteen points while his try from close to the line was a thing of beauty. Another who took centre stage was Adam Gauder. His tackling was clean and low and he saved the CH in many desperate situations.
Kandy was asking for this, as their play throughout the season was not top drawer stuff. The CH had a wonderful game in which they seemed to have planned things out better. Further, they played as a unit, often helping each other out in difficulty.
The CH scored 33 points (2 goals, 2 tries, 3 penalties) to Kandy’s 17 (2 goals, a penalty). With this bonus point victory the CH has turned the table on its head. It’s not all gloom for Kandy, however, as there is a siver of hope.
A Ranjan-less Kandy team was put on the back-foot straightaway by a Maduwantha penalty. Gauder was penalised for a high tackle. The penalty was quickly taken, and the ball worked to the other wing where CH were pushed back around twenty yards.
Sutharshan Muthuthanthri, who played a tireless game, touched down for CH’s first try. This was not converted (CH 8 – Kandy 7).
Another Maduwantha penalty opened up a small gap. Then it was the turn of hooker Prasath Madusanka to go over, and widen the breach.
Half time was taken at 16-7, with the CH in the lead.
Thilina Wijesinghe, who came on in the second half, made an immediate impact. Having drawn the defence on the left and sent a nice pass, Kandy used it to touch down on the other side. Wijesinghe converted (16-14).
Then came that beautiful try by Maduwantha, off a five yard maul. He converted himself and CH were on their way (23 – 14). Wijesinghe replied by converting the simplest of penalties (23-17). That was as far as Kandy got as the CH, sensing that a win was on the cards, threw themselves into the fray with zest.
A loose ball around the Kandy 22 was pounced on by scrum half Sudham Suriyarachchi for CH’s final try.
Kandy was sloppy at times, fumbling and dropping their passes. With time running out and a deficit to be made up, Kandy should have been fighting like cornered tigers. Instead they were a bit lethargic.
It is not curtains for Kandy. The Havies game still remains the clincher. But, the failure of Kandy to score that bonus point try, could tell on them.
Thilina Wijesinghe, though an invaluable asset to the team, made a couple of bad blunders in the last few minutes. He was lucky his team wasn’t punished for those.
Referee – Priyantha Gunaratne.