Kandy barely survive glorious CR onslaught
It's a game that CR could have won - Pic by Amila Gamage
What a game – one of the best in recent times. Kandy started off in a blaze of red-hot rugby. The outsids handled the ball splendidly and they were able to find gaps in the CR defence at will.
CR waited for the storm to subside and spend itself, and then started to work themselves back into the game. It was 28-3 at one stage in the initial half. But then Kandy remained static as the Red Shirts set about whittling down that massive lead. Half time was taken at 28-16 in favour of the winners. By then, the shift in momentum had already started.
While Kandy added a sole penalty in the second half, CR manufactured twelve points to make it 31-26 with about ten minutes left. Over anxiety, pressure, tension – call it what you will – but the fact remains that the CR failed to get that elusive final try. They had two or three chances of going over but fate decreed that they fell short.
Kandy showed their intentions when winger Anuruddha Wilwara latched on to the ball after the backs had indulged in a bout of passing. He touched down near the upright to give Thilina Wijesinghe a simple conversion.
The winners had the scent of blood in their nostrils and hooker Uchita Jayasuriya was over the line for their second try, shortly after. Wijesinghe was faultless and Kandy SC led 14-0.
CR missed a couple of tackles as they were dragged into that Kandy assault. Roshan Weeraratne was the next to score and with the conversion, Kandy were in front 21-0.
CR’s revival was short-lived as Stephen Sivaraj booted over a penalty to make it 21-3. Weeraratne made the next try by making a judicious punt from about fifteen yards out. Pathirana was hovering near the line and the ball bounced fairly high. The taller Kandy player beat a CR opponent to the ball and fell over (28-3).
Despite the odds, CR indulged in their penchant for attack. Wajid Fawmy, showed a fine burst of speed as he dashed down the left wing to touch down. Sivaraj’s conversion put CR in double figures. Kandy was penalised for collapsing the scrum, and Sivaraj accepted the penalty, and another, a short while later, with glee to make it 28-16 at lemons.
Kevin Dixon who made a couple of thrilling runs through the defence took play into the Kandy 22.Sivaraj obliged with another penalty offering (28-19).
Thilina Wijesinghe, much against the run of play, put over a penalty to advance the score (31-19). That man Fawmy touched down a second time and, Tarinda Ratwatte, who had come on, converted an angular kick to make it 31-26.
CR knew that they were just one scoring effort away and played like men possessed. But a fatigued Kandy defence managed to hold on. CR added to their woes in those precious last few minutes by dropping a pass or two.
Kandy showed championship calibre by holding on in the teeth of opposition to secure the win, with a bonus point, too. They are still in the hunt, not ready to cave in easily.
Referee – Lawrence Wilkinson