Kandy crush Havelocks - 102/3

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Kandy Sports Club registered their highest ever total against Havelocks Sports Club when they crushed them by 102 points (11 goals, five tries) to 3 (one penalty) to enter the semi-final of the Caltex Clifford Cup Knock-out Rugby Tournament in the quarter final match played at Nittawela yesterday. At halt time Kandy SC had virtually wrapped up the game leading 52-0.

Kandy made their intentions very clear from the kick off itself when their dynamic winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe ran in three scorching 45-metre tries and full back Saliya Kumara added the extra points to one of them for Kandy to lead 17-0 in the first 12 minutes of play which sealed the fate of the game.

Skipper and centre Pradeep Liyanage scored the fourth try and full back Saliya Kumara added the extra points. Kandy 24-0.

In the 18th minute Saliya Kumara retrieving the ball from the maul made a 60 metre dash before handing out a pass to fly half Fazil Marija who had only to touch down par left. Saliya Kumara added the extra points. Kandy 31-0.

In the 26th minute Sameera Sila made a 35-metre sprint to score mid left and Fazil Marija added the extra points. Kandy 38-0. In the 31st minute lock forward Senaka Bandara scored far left off a maul and full back Sheriff made a beautiful conversion. Kandy 45-0.

In the 34th minute full back Mohamed Sheriff grabbed possession and darted 35-metres before sending out a pass to centre Pradeep Liyanage who scored mid left and goalled the try himself. Kandy led 52-0.

Kandy continued to rub salt into the wounds of their opponents when in the 4th minute of the second half No. 8 Sajith Saranga scored a push over try by the left corner flag. Full back Sheriff who was in good kicking form had the misfortune of seeing his kick at goal strike the uprights and rebound. Kandy 57-0.

In the 8th minute a long pass by Marija to Sanjeewa Jayasinghe who finished touching down by right corner flag. Mohamed Sheriff added the extra points. Kandy 64-0. In the 12th minute a breezy run by flanker Shashika Jayawardene saw another try being scored under the posts. Fazil Marija added the extra points. Kandy led 71-0. This time it was the turn of Malinga Godigamuwa to score far left. Sheriff failed to add the extra points Kandy 76-0.

In the 25th minute winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe collecting a pass from Marija and ran 40 metres to score under the posts Marija added the extra points. Kandy led 83-0.

A minute later Havelocks reduced the lead through a 35 metre penalty fired by prop Nipuna Vimukthi (Havelocks 3-83)

In the 28 minute No. 8 Sajith Saranga powered his way un-challenged to score far right. Marija failed to add the extra points. Kandy led 88-3. In the 38th minute Scrum half Krishantha Rajapakse sneaked his way to score under the post and Marija quickly added the extra points Kandy 95-3.

With play almost drifting into the final minute veteran winger Sameera Silva in a do or die effort sliced through Havies defence to score under the posts and added the extra points himself in style (Kandy 102-3).

D. Nimal refereed.