Seventh rugby double for Kandy SC

BY S. M. JIFFREY Abdeen, Kandy sports corr. at Nittawela

DEFENDING Caltex League champions completed the rugby double of winning both the league and the Clifford Cup for the seventh successive year when they drubbed CH and FC by 31 points (2 goals, 1 try, 2 penalties, 2 drop goals) to 6 (2 penalties) in the finals of the Clifford Cup rugby tournament played at the Nittawela rugby stadium in Kandy yesterday.

At half time Kandy led 13-6.

Kandy SC never before had such an easy win in the final of the Clifford Cup as their opponents CH and FC did not match up to the standards of the winners. Rain before and during made ground conditions wet and slippery but Kandy acquitted themselves under these dreary conditions.

Match winner for Kandy was their star full back Nalaka Weerakkody who had a fine game. His booming kicks to touch not only relieved pressure but also helped his team to gain valuable territorial advantage.

In addition to this he also fired two penalties, goalled two tries and also executed two drop goals to bring his tally in the match to 14 points which flustered the CH.

The game started with CH and FC's full back converting a penalty in the 10th minute of play. But Kandy responded with a goal when fly half Fazil Manjer covered some distance and slipped a pass to skipper and winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe who despite the wet conditions underfoot made a blazing 60 metre run to dive over by the right corner flag. Weerakkody made a brilliant conversion for Kandy to snatch the lead 7-3.

In the 24th minute CH's full back put over a penalty to reduce the lead to 6-7.

At this stage one expected a close game but it was not to be as Kandy went onto pile up the points and CH made no more addition to their score.

In the 30th minute Kandy were awarded a penalty from a difficult angle and Weerakkody once again made a very good conversion with the ball striking the uprights before going over. Kandy 10-6.

In the 32nd minute Weerakkody again put over a penalty for Kandy to lead 13-6 at lemons.

After the turn around there was a lull in the scoring for nearly 15 minutes with CH putting up a good defence. Kandy at this stage made three changes and once again Kandy's scoring went into action.

In the 17th minute Weerakkody saw the CH defence lax when the ball came out of the scrum he executed a drop goal from 30 metres to increase Kandy's lead to 16-6.

In the 25th minute a penalty was awarded to Kandy inside CH territory which was kicked to touch by Weerakkody. From the ensuing line out Kandy won the ball and No. 8 Dushantha Lewke scored off a ruck.

Weerakkody made another good conversion for Kandy to lead 23-6. Lewke left the field soon after as he was playing with a bleeding head injury which he had got attended to earlier in the game.

The 35th minute saw Kandy taking play into CH territory and forced a scrum and when the ball came out centre Pradeep Liyanage with a burst speed went over far right.

Weerakkody failed to add the extra points. Kandy led 28-6. In the final stages of the game another drop goal by Weerakkody saw them emerge winners 31-6.

Nizam Jamaldeen refereed.