Kandy rout Army - 66/3

S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy sport correspondent

RUGBY: Defending Caltex League Champion Kandy Sports Club put up another exhilarating display to vanquish Sri Lanka Army by 66 points ( 5 goals, 5 tries, 1 drop goal, 1 penalty) to 3 ( 1 penalty) in their Caltex League Rugby Tournament matches played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium in Kandy yesterday. At half Kandy Sports Club held a commanding lead of 30-0.

Kandy went into an early lead when winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe sliced through the defence to touch down far right.

Full back Nalaka Weerakkody failed to add the extra points. But made amends a few minutes when he caught the Army defence to execute a peach of a drop goal. Kandy 8-0.

Winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe put Kandy further ahead when ran on the blind side to touch down by right corner flag are Weerakkody made a brilliant conversion. Kandy 15-0.

Next Kandy's forward pounded on the Army defence with No. 8 Dushantha Lewke falling over. But Weerakkody failed to add the extra points. Kandy 20-0.

A lively three quarter movement which carried the ball nearly 30 metres ended up by centre Pradeep Liyanage touching down by right corner flag. Nalaka Weerakkody added the extra points with a brilliant kick and also fired a penalty for Kandy to take up the unbeatable lead of 30-0 at lemons.

Few minutes after the resumption, Army reduced the lead through a penalty put over by Kapila Knowlton. Army 3-30.

But it was not long before Kandy mounted pressure again with full force. A kick ahead by full back Nalaka Weerakkody was fumbled by Army's A. Jayathillake and fly half Fazial pounced on the bouncing ball and ended up under the post with a 30-metre piercing run. Nalaka Weerakoddy added the extra points. Kandy 37-3.

A few minutes later winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe showed a clean pair of heels to go over mid-right. But Nalaka Weerakkody's kick at goal was spoiled by a gust of wind which saw the ball veering off when almost near the uprights. Kandy 42-3.

Next a penalty awarded to Kandy was short tapped by No. 8 Dushantha Lewke who powered his way past several Army defenders to score by the left posts. Full back Nalaka Weerakkody added the extra points. Kandy 49-3.

At this stage, full-back Nalaka Weerakkody was recalled and replaced by his younger brother Erande Weerakkody.

Next it was the turn of dusky centre Chamara Withanage who collected a kick ahead and ran 40-metres to score by the posts. Full-back Erande Weerakkody added the extra points. Kandy SC 56-3.

Two more tries by strong running Sameera Silva and centre Pradeep Liyanage which went uncontested saw Kandy SC inflicting a crushing 66-3 defeat on the Soldiers.

D. Nimal Refereed.