Kandy stave off fierce challenge from CH and FC to win 25-19

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

There was no one way traffic this time as the defending Clifford Cup champions Kandy Sports Club struggled to a 25 points (2 goals, 1 try, 2 penalties) to 19 (2 goals, 1 try) win over a gallant CH and FC to enter the finals of the Caltex Clifford Cup knock-out rugby tournament match played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium in Kandy yesterday. At half time Kandy led 19-0.

Having a commanding 19-0 lead at lemons, Kandy failed to consolidate on this, while CH and FC's forwards in an absorbing performance rattled the home team.

Kandy Sports Club owe their victory to the individual brilliance of their skipper and centre Pradeep Liyanage who scored a hat-trick of tries in the first half. If you take this out, Kandy's scoring would have been just two penalties to sum the story of this semi-final.

Kandy opened scoring in the 10th minute of the game when lock Senaka Bandara won a line out for Kandy and sent a pass to stand off Fazil Marija who in turn gave it to centre Pradeep Liyanage who ran a good 50 metres to score under the posts. Full back Saliya Kumara added the extra points. Kandy 7-0.

In the 35th minute the best try of the match was scored when Kandy's centre Pradeep Liyanage intercepted a pass and made a blazing 70 metre run to score under the post. Saliya Kumara added the extra points. Kandy 14-0.

In the final moments of the first half centre Mohamed Sheriff retrieved the ball from a ruck and handed over same to fly half Fazil Marija who off loaded to centre Pradeep Liyanage who scored far left. Saliya Kumara missed a difficult conversion. Kandy led 19-0 at lemons.

CH opened scoring in the 17th minute of the second half when a vigorous drive by their forwards ended in their hard working prop Sathya Ranatunga touching down mid left. Flanker Senthil Kumar failed to add the extra points. CH 5-19.

Spurred by this success CH kept the pressure on and a kick ahead saw Kandy full back Saliya Kumara slip off before collection and CH's scrum half Milinda Jayasinghe fell over far right. Senthil Kumar made a good conversion for CH to reduce the gap to 12-19.

CH were penalised for not releasing the ball in the 23rd minute and Saliya Kumara fired a 30 metre penalty for Kandy to increase their lead to 22-12.

In the 32nd minute another aggressive drive by CH forwards saw their prop forward Sathya Ranatunga keeping possession of the ball and falling over once again over the line. Senthil Kumar added the extra points.

CH had bridged the gap to 19-22 with just three points separating them from glory and death.

In the final moments of the game. Kandy were awarded a 35 metre penalty which was converted by Saliya Kumara and Kandy had extended their lead to 25-19 at the final whistle of referee Pradeep Fernando.