Kandy stamp their class again

By Aubrey Kuruppu

Havelocks’ Ruwan Suranga is held by a KRFC defender. (Pic By Ranjith Perera)

Mismatches were the order of the day as the men were sorted out from the boys on the first day of the Dialog Professional Rugby Sevens at the Bogambara Stadium.

Defending champions and favourites Kandy SC exceeded the fifty point mark in both their matches. However the small-made and relatively untried Galle team deserves credit for crossing the Kandy line. This try came about as a result of a short tap taken close to the line.

Kandy SC threw some of their bench-strength into the fray and Kusal Rankoth impressed with his speed. No doubt, the full Kandy Sevens side should provide the sparkle when they clash with the CR&FC possibly in the final.

Army provided a semblance of an upset when they beat the CH&FC 19-14 in a game where fortunes see-sawed. The Army built up an early 12 point lead, only to lose it thereafter to the CH who ran in two tries and converted them. The decisive goal came in a minute from full time.

The game between Jawatte Lions and Galle was even closer. The former had the stronger finish and prevailed by two points.
The drama was reserved for the end when Police clashed with the CR and ran up a 12-0 lead at the break. However CR came back with three tries within minutes, led 19-12 with time running out, the Police showed they hadn’t shot their bolt, when they got the equalizer with minutes to go.

Results
Kandy SC59 Jawatte Lions 0
Army SC 47 Peterson SC 0
Havelocks SC 42 Kurunegala RFC 5
CR&FC 39 Old Zahirians SC 7
Jawatte Lions 19 Galle RFC 17
CH&FC 43 Peterson SC 0
Air Force 35 Kurunegala RFC 5
Police 48 Old Zahirians SC 0
Kandy SC 56 Galle RFC 5
Army 19 CH&FC 14
Havelocks 26 Air Force 7
CR&FC 19 Police 19