Kandy SC rout CH and FC - 41/7

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr .

Defending Caltex Rugby League Champions Kandy Sports Club took a step forward towards winning the league title for the 8th succussive year when they drubbed CH and FC by 41 points (3 goals, 4 tries) to 7 (1 goal) in their Caltex League Second round match played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium in Kandy yesterday. At lemons Kandy led 29-0.

Kandy made their intentions quite clear almost with the kick of when stand off Fazil Marija collecting a pass from scrums half Saliya Kumara went over near the posts scrums half Saliya Kumara added the extra points Kandy 7-0.

In the 4th minute winger Sanjeewa Jayasingha received a pass from centre Pradeep Liyanage and sprinted away nearly 50 metres to score by the right corner flag. Saliya Kumara failed to add the extra points Kandy led 12-0.

With the game barely five minutes old, Kandy were leading 12-0 and CH and FC never recovered from this shock and Kandy continued to mount pressure on their opponents.

In the 20th minute Kandy scored their third try when No. 8 Imran Bisthamin peeled off a line out and the ball changed hands through Fazil Marija, Sameera Silva for full back Radhika Hettiarachchi sprint away nearly 35 metres before scoring near the left post. Saliya Kumara failed to add the extra points. Kandy 17-0 had the game wrapped up by now.

In the 30th minute an up and under kicked by Fazil Marija was collected by himself and after covering some ground sent centre Pradeep Liyanage to score mid right full back Radhika Hettiarachchi added the extra points. Kandy led 24-0.

Just before the lemons winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe collecting a pass from inside Kandy territory and sprinted 60 metres to score by the right corner flag. Saliya Kumara failed with a difficult kick. Kandy led 29-0.

After the teams had refreshed during the short break Kandy scored the best try of the match. In the 10th minute CH and FC’s hooker Achala Perera made a break and sent a pass to Dinesh Sanjeewa but it was intercepted by Kandy’s winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe who darted across and ran nearly 55 metres to score near the right post. Saliya Kumara’s kick at goal was off target. Kandy led 34-0.

In the 20th minute Kandy scored again when hooker Anuranga Walpola wrested possession off a maul and sent a pass to full back Radhika Hettiarchchi who ran 30 metres to score under the post to put Kandy ahead 41-0.

CH and FC’s solitary try in the match came in the 35th minute when winger Indika Udayakumara smothered a kick inside Kandy territory and covered good ground to score under the post. Fly half Sajith Bandara added the extra points.

Pradeep Fernando refereed.