Kandy edge out Navy in a thriller
Defending league champions, Kandy Sports Club edged out Navy SC in a thrilling Inter Club League rugby tournament winning by 16 points (2 tries, 2 penalties) to 14 points (2 tries, 2 conversions) at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.
At the ‘breather’ it was one way traffic with Kandy leading 16-0.
The game was played under ideal overcast and gloomy conditions for rugby. It was a tale of two halves. Kandy did dominate proceedings in the initial half with their forwards and three quarters combining well.
In forwards play once more their number 8 Buwanaka Udangamuwa stood out. In the three quarter moves Nigel Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera, Oshan Perera and Tharinda Ratwatte were outstanding. Kandy will need to go back to basics on their line-out throws which was far below standards by both their hookers putting them under severe pressure.
If the first half belonged to Kandy, the second half was for Sailors. They dominated proceedings with some powerful moves which stretched the Kandy defence. Musheen Faleel, Chathura Seneviratne and Adeesha Weeratunge were outstanding. Their number 8 Radeehsa Seneviratne too was omnipresent. He split the Kandy defence with some powerful moves. Navy who kept on attacking in the Kandy half, scored two converted tries but in the end ran out of direction through a penalty kick and time.
Kandy drew first blood in the 8th minute of the game through a Thilina Wijesinghe penalty. Five minutes later Navy got a golden opportunity for equalising but surprisingly their kicker and full back Thilina Weerasinghe was off target.
Then came the try of the match when Kandy worked their three quarter line and winger Kavindu Perera dashed nearly 45 metres to touch down by the left corner flag. There was time for one more Kandy try through their centre Oshan Perera who dummied his way to score a magnificent try. Once again Kandy SC’s reliable place kicker Thilina Wijesinghe missed the conversion.
However, Kandy went further ahead through another Thilina Wijesinghe penalty to enjoy a 16-0 at half time.
But the second half belonged to the sailors who were outstanding. They scored their first try through their flanker Gihan Perera. A few minutes later Kandy were in an attacking position but kept the ball with their forwards for too long and paid the penalty when the sailors turned over the ball and attacked relentlessly to score their last try through Adeesha Weerathunge. Thilina Weerasinghe converted both of them.
Navy missed a golden opportunity to pull off a win when former Kingswoodian and national player Chathura Senevirathne’s 40-metre penalty kick was off target.
Referee – Isuru Perera