Havies provide Kandy’s Waterloo
Havies centre Sandun Herath goes past Kandy defenders to score their first try - Pic by Sameera Weerasekara
The Biblical feast at Cana where water was turned into wine was kind of reenacted at Havelock Park where a fighting, spirited Havelocks team overcame a strangely diffident Kandy side to pull off a 28-26 win.
Kandy did not show the brilliance they displayed early on in the CR game but still they were up and away to a healthy 19-0 lead after around 25 minutes of play.
Havies number eight Lasindu Ishan sparked the fight back with a try just shy of the short whistle. By then the score had reached 19-7.
Kandy showed in the CR game too that the longer the game lasts, the less potent they become. The Havies forwards ran all over them in the second half to add 21 points whereas the visitors could only add seven. That too at the fag end of the game.
The Havies pack was full of caged tigers waiting to be unleashed. When they were, they tore into their opponents with admirable speed and power. It looked for all the world as though there was only one pack on the park.
The Havies went on the attack initially, but somewhat against the run of play, the Kandy backs threatened the line and passed to Heshan Kalhara, who powered his way through having spotted a small gap.
A deft chip into the corner by Nigel Ratwatte paid dividends. He followed up and beat the lone Havies defender to touch down. Wijesinghe did not oblige (12-0).
Flanker Tharindu Chaturanga was over next, after the forwards had worked their way into the Havies 22.
Lasindu Ishan started the revival with a try deep right which was added to by the reliable Reza Mubarak.
The Havies, by now had the bit between their teeth. Keenly aware of their opponents’ second half frailties, they went for broke. They attacked the line and center Theekshana Dissanayake off-loaded rapidly to co-center Randy Silva who touched down. Mubarak made it 19-14.
Mithun Hapugoda sparked a brilliant effort as soon as he came on. The ball changed hands at speed, but for their bad luck, the pass was dropped on the line. The Havies were not to be denied however. They swarmed into the Kandy 22 and after a short exchange of passes Umesh Madushan went over. Mubarak’s conversion put the Havies in front for the first time. Muthun Hapugoda somehow found space to score the final try for the Havies. Mubarak, whose kicking was impeccable converted that too.
It was 28-19 and to all intents and purposes Havies had the game won. But champions are made of sterner stuff. Kandy made one final desperate bid for a goal. They succeeded when Shehan Pathirana went over and the try was converted by Thilina Wijesingha. There was no time left for any Kandyan magic as Havies clung on for dear life in the last two minutes or so. Kandy was without Bhuweneka Udangamuwa while Dushmantha Priyadarashana and Dinuk Amarasinghe did not play for Havies due to injuries.
Referee:Tasuko Kawahara