• Kandy outclass CH

• Kandy outclass CH

By Shamzeer Jaleel

Kandy SC 38 points

CH & FC 22 points

Kandy remained unbeaten in the Inter Club rugby round 1 for yet another week when they beat CH & FC by 38 Points (6 tries, 4 conversions) to 22 points (3 tries, 2 conversions, 1 penalty) win at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.

At the short breather Kandy led 19/8.

Kandy took ample time to settle early in the game. CH & FC  grabbing this opportunity started attacking in the Kandy 22. They scored a try and a penalty in the early stages of the game which put immense pressure on the home team.  Kandy settled late but settled well. They used their powerful three quarter line to attack. Ranjan and Dharmapala looked threatening for the home team with some powerful runs which foxed the the visitors. CH too played cohesive rugby well supported by Yoshitha Rajapakse and Niwanka Prasad in forwards play and Anuradha Herath stood out in the three quarter line. CH was  given ample support by Sudam Sooriyarachchi and Hirantha Perera in the initial half with some threatening moves. Sudam Soooriyarachchi was taken out due to an injury later in the game which broke their link between the forwards and three quarter line.

Thlina Wijesinghe too was not at his peak with kick at goal. Kandy was well supported by their mobile forwards led by Buwanka Udangamuwa, Heshan Kalhara, Yakoob Ali and Shehan Pathirana where all stood out for the home team with a magnificent performance.

CH & FC drew first blood in the 7^th minute of the game when Sudam Soriyarachchi dummied his way for a try. Samuel Maduwantha who was off target put over a penalty for the CH 4 minutes later to take a commanding 8/0 lead. Kandy woke up in the 18^th minute of the game through a sweeping three quarter move ending in Danushka Dyan try. One try a piece by Richard Dharmapala and Buwanka Udangamuwa took Kandy to a comfortable 19/8 lead at the short breather. Maduwantha missed a 50 meter penalty in the first half.

After the turn around Hooker Nivanka Prasad powered his way through with Samuel Maduwantha adding the extra 2 points. But Kandy scored through Dhanushka Ranjan, Arshard Jamaldeen and Sahshika Jayawardena which put CH out of the game. One of them was goaled by Thilina Wijesinghe. For CH hooker, Nivanka Prasad had time for another try which was converted by Samuel Maduwantha.

Referee Praneeth Weeranga

Kandy will host the unbeaten Havies next Sunday at Nittawela.