Kandy, CR in nail-biting win over Navy, CH
Kandy SC clinched their third successive win in the season, sinking Navy SC by 35-30 in a Sri Lanka Rugby League match played at Navy ground yesterday.
They collected their points through two goals, three tries and two penalties while the Navy scored three goals and three penalties.
Sailor Chathura Seneviratne converted two penalties in the first eight minutes of play to take an early lead, but Kandy came back strongly to end the first half in a strong position of 20-6. Tharinda Ratwatte scored a penalty in the 11th minute before Jason Dissanayake scored the first try in the first half to put them on top. Roshan Weeraratne then touched down in the 33rd minute before Ratwatte added the extra points through a clean kick.
Buddima Priyantha touched down just seven minutes into the breather as Kandy took a comfortable lead going into the break. A minute into the second half Seneviratne put over his third penalty but Kandy hit back with a try through Buddima Priyarathne which was converted by Ratwatte. Nirosh Perera scored the Navy’s first try in the 56th minute which was converted by Seneviratne. Bawantha Udangamuwa then scored Kandy’s fifth try before Janith Laksara (67minute) and Charith Janitha (70th minute) scored back to back tries to close the margin. Seneviratne converted them. Ratwatte added three more points for Kandy through a 75th-minute penalty to win by a slender margin of five points.
In the other match, CR and FC only managed to edge out CH and FC 27-22, registering their first win, though CR was well ahead by a dozen of points (24-12) at the end of the first-half, in the same championship played yesterday at Longdon Place.
For CR, it was scrumhalf Kavindu De Costa, Jero Danangaya Dewage and Marsheed Doray all planting one try each while for CH Prasath Madusanka, Avishka Lee, Omalka Gunaratne and Ganuka Dissanayake planting for their team.
It is in conversions, CR went past their counterparts successfully converting all three opportunities, whereas, CH cut only a pathetic figure converting only try of theirs. It is in those moments, CH lost the plot, including conceding two penalties to CR.
Despite CH trailing by 12-points, they did well to clear that deficit and nearly came close of winning match.