Kandy SC reign supreme at Club Rugby Sevens

RANJEEVA SENEVIRATNE

Kandy Sports Club came up with a stupendous performance to score a smashing 33 points (four goals, one try) to 14 (two goals) win over CR and FC in the Cup Championship final of the Club Rugby Sevens played at Longden Place yesterday to retain the title for the fifth successive year having won the first leg played at Nittawela with a runaway 40-10 win over the Red Shirts.

Kandy SC opened scoring in the 2nd minute of the first half when Sanjeeva Jayasinghe slipped out a pass to fly half Fazil Marija who dashed through 70 metres to score under the posts and converted it himself to make it 7-0.

Two minutes later Mohamed Sheriff began a move in Kandy territory and sped over 60 metres to touch down under the posts and added the extra points himself and Kandy led 14-0.

In the 6th minute Sanjeeva Jayasinghe made a powerful run on the left flank to fall over for an unconverted try by the corner flag. (Kandy 19-0).

Two minutes later Kandy increased their lead when Sanjeeva Jayasinghe dashed through 40 metres to score under the posts to give Saliya Kumara an easy kick at goal to make it 26-0.

Just before the breather CR and FC’s Ashan de Costa crashed through for a try under the posts and Reza Mubarak converted and Kandy led 26-7 at ‘lemons’.

In the 2nd minute after resumption Kandy’s Saliya Kumara made a break in the Kandy ‘25’ and slipped out a pass to Pradeep Liyanage who sped over 60 metres to score under the posts. Saliya Kumara added the extra points (Kandy 33-7).

In the 9th minute of the second half CR took a short tap in the Kandy ‘25’ and scrum half Sooriyabandara sent out a pass to fly half Ashan de Costa who touched down under the posts. Reza Mubarak converted but Kandy SC ran out worthy winners by 33 points to 14.

Kandy SC went through several anxious moments before overcoming a gallant Navy outfit in the semi-finals by 19-12 in extra time after the scores stood at 12-all at full time while CR and FC scored a hard fought 5-nil win over CH and FC.

CH and FC bagged the Plate Championship by overcoming Sri Lanka Navy by 14 points (two goals) to 7 (one goal) in the final. Sajith Bandara and Dilanka Wijesekera scored the tries for the winners with Shanaka Pietersz converting both tries.

Suranga Pushpakumara scored the try for Navy with Eranda Weerakkody adding the extra points.

Sri Lanka Air Force clinched the Bowl Championship with a hard fought 7-5 win over Sri Lanka Army in the final after trailing 0-5 at the breather.