Sports

Sports

Kandy win tale of two halves
Kandy ripped the Navy defence to shreds to win 70 - 3
What a difference an interval makes! Navy produced some superb defensive rugby, with generous helpings of attack, to keep Kandy to a 3 all score minutes before the short whistle. Kandy hit back when unmarked Liyanage took a long pass and strolled over the line for a half time score of 8-3.

Came the second half and Kandy SC were allowed to go on the rampage to post a 70 (6 goals, 5 tries, 1 penalty) to 3 (1 penalty) win. Navy showed a complete lack of determination and commitment in this half and paid a heavy price for their indiscretions. Referee Dilroy Fernando had his hands full, dispensing red and yellow cards and laying down the law.

Navy's indiscipline led to a try scourge in which Liyanage, Bandaranaike (3), Malith Silva. Pushpakumara, Jema, Galgamuwa, Laga, Yapa and Weerakkody touched down. Weerakkody kicked correctly at goal on seven occasions.

Latterly the match became farcical, with Navy having but 12 men on the field. Sham Pradeep,Sherifdeen (Navy) and Jema (Kandy) were the players sent off. - (A.K)

Ananda on the rampage
Ananda -66 Mahanama -0
By Bernie Wijesekera

Catch me if you can. This Ananda player is tackled by a Mahanama player but yet he is determined to keep the ball in play. Ananda won the game 66-0. Pic by Ishara S. Kodikara

Ananda College who scored a nail-biting 8-7 win over S. Thomas' in their first match for the season, went on the rampage against Mahanama with a superb exhibition of running rugby to win by 66 points (8 goals and 2 tries) in a schools rugby football match at Longden Place last evening.

At the turn around the Maradana school led 35-0. The match was scheduled to start at 5 P.M. but the appointed referee failed to turn up. The game was delayed by 25 minutes when they had to go in search of a referee and managed to get the services of Ajith Fernando.

Ananda, newcomers to rugby, showed immense rugby skills thanks to their coach, former Sri Lanka stalwart Hisham Abdeen, who has nursed and nurtured them to be a competent outfit. The entire back division indulged in the run and pass game and made gaping holes in the Mahanama defence, who wilted under pressure. From the kick off, they produced red-hot rugby with the fans enjoying every minute of it.
It was not that Mahanama played badly. They failed to withstand the onslaught against a fitter team, who handled the ball with precision.

In the initial half Ananda scored five tries through Nadees Chaturanga, the fullback who constantly formed the overlap. Centre Ishan Lakjaya scored the second try. Lakjaya had a good game when he planted two more tries in the second half. The fourth try was by Malik Kanchana and the fifth by Chaturanga Jayasinghe.

After the short break Ananda added five more tries. A. Fonseka, Ransiri Peiris, Nipuna Vimukthi scored them almost at will. The conversions were shared by Chaturanga and fly half Nipuna Vimpukthi. Referee Ajith Fernando.

CH vs CR best in next week’s rugby
The traditional game between CH&FC and CR&FC will commence the main league before the super-six. It will provide excellent fare starting June 6. The CR vs CH tie will take place at Maitland Crescent on June 7.

On Friday June 6, the Army-Police match could be a real block-buster at Galle Face. Both teams have in their fold some rugged forwards. The soldiers with three foreigners in their fold should generate more excitement. Another game is on the cards on Saturday June 7 when League champions Kandy SC travel for the first time to Colombo this season to be the guests of Havelocks at Havelock Park.

On Sunday June 8, Kandy Youth take on Air Force at at Nittawela while Old Zahirians play hosts to Kurunegala RFC at CH Grounds, Maitland Place. (B.W)

Back to Sports