Kandy SC edge closer to rugby double

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Corr. at Nittawela

Defending Clifford Cup champions took a step closer to annexing the rugby double for the seventh year in running when they beat Sri Lanka Army by 21 points (1 goal, 1 try, 3 penalties) to 10 (1 goal, 1 try) to enter the finals of the Caltex sponsored Clifford Cup Knock-Out Rugby Tournament match played at Nittawela yesterday. At half time Kandy led 13-10.

The Army though beaten put up a gallant display to drive fear into the ranks of the champions through some power play and had the edge over their opponents in both line outs and scrums. It was in the loose and through some professional approach that Kandy was able to clinch the match.

Once again Kandy's forwards were disappointing and they will have to give an improved performance in the finals which is scheduled to be played at Nittawela this Sunday against the winner of the CH & FC vs CR & FC which is due to be played in Colombo today.

Army also should take serious note of one of their supporters who was involved is an incident with a touch judge which resulted in the match being stopped for 15 minutes.

Kandy opened scoring in the 6th minute of play through a penalty fired by full back Nalaka Weerakoddy, Kandy 3-0. In the 10th minute of play Kandy further increased their lead through a penalty put over by Nalaka Weerakoddy. Kandy 6-0.

But in the 15th minute Army took over the lead when a five metre scrum was won and look forward Nishantha Jayasuriya collected the ball from the ruck and went over the blind side to score near the posts. Full back T.A. Silva added the extra points. Army 7-6.

Kandy regained the lead in the 22nd minute when they won a scrum deep inside Army territory. Scrum half Amjad Baksh pass to Sajith Mallikkarahchi and centre Pradeep Liyanage sliced through to score with the tackle. Weerakoddy added the extra points. Kandy 13-7.

At this stage Army's No. 8 Suranga was sent on 'Sin Bin' by referee Pradeep Fernando for arguing. Just before lemons Army reduced the lead through a 40 metre penalty fired by T.A. Silva. After the breather Kandy's lock Pradeep Basnayake was replaced by Kapila Silva and hooker Malith Silva by Anju Baksh.

In the 16th minute Kandy once again forged ahead when replacement hooker Anju Baksh scored by the right corner flag off a maul. Weerakoddy failed to add the extra points. Kandy led 18-10.

Before the kick at goal was taken play was interrupted for about 15 minutes when match officials refused to continue with the game alleging an Army supporter had entered the field and punched one of the touch judge. It took a lot of persuasion by the Match Commissioner Tony Amith for the referee and the two judges to resume play. Amith also told the referee that the game must go on and one more incident they could come off.

A few minutes later Weerakoddy fired another penalty from a distance of 40 metres to put Kandy further ahead 21-10.

During the dying stages of the game Kandy's winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe made a splendid 90 metre run slipping tackles and touched down but this try was disallowed as he had stepped out on the way.