Kandy crush Havelocks - 44/0

S. M. Jiffry Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

Defending champions Kandy Sports Club started their campaign in quest of the trophies which they won last season by whipping Havelocks Sports Club by 44 points (2 goals, 6 tries) to nil in their opening game of Caltex Rugby League tournament played at the Nittawela rugby stadium yesterday. At half time Kandy SC led 15-0.

Before the commencement of the match, two minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to late E. W. Balasuriya who was a sports promoter and benefactor and a trustee of Kandy SC.

A heavy shower 45 minutes before play commenced made ground conditions a little damp and slippery but did not affect the game much.

Kandy took time to settle down and it was in the 25th of the first half they opened their account when No. 8 Sean Wijesinghe made a breezy 20 metre run and dived over mid right.

Full back Saliya Kumara failed to add the extra points. Kandy 5-0.

In the 34th minute flanker Dilip Selvam collecting a pass from Sean Wijesinghe fell far right. Saliya Kumara failed to add the extra points. Kandy 10-0.

Shortly before the short blast winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe collecting a pass from centre Pradeep Liyanage made a fine 40 metre run along the line and when challenged plunged over mid right. Saliya Kumara again failed to add the extra points.

Kandy virtually went on the rampage in the second half with their forwards combining with the backs displaying mobility and fluency which had the Havelocks defence in tatters.

Fifth minute of the second half saw scrum half Roshan Weeraratne spotting a gap, scored far right. Saliya Kumara missed his fourth attempt of kick at goal. Kandy 20-0.

In the 10th minute a three quarter, saw centre Pradeep Liyanage make a piercing run to score far right. Saliya Kumara added the extra points. (Kandy 27-0).

In the 16th minute, Kandy’s pack using their weight powered their way over the line and burly prop Eranga Swarnatillake scored mid right. Saliya Kumara added the extra points. Kandy 34-0.

Two minutes later Kandy’s forwards carried the ball and flanker Sajith Saranga scored by the left corner flag. Saliya Kumara missed a difficult kick at goal. Kandy 39-0.

Kandy at this stage decided to rest some of the key players and brought in some of the youngsters from the bench.

Thus winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, hooker Achala Perera, Pradeep Liyanage, Kishore Jehan and Sean Wijesinghe came off the field and were replaced by winger Dharshana Ettipola, Shashika Jayawardena, Anuranga Walpola, Buddhi Talagampola and Mohamed Jabber. With these changes the tempo of the game dropped, so was the scoring by the Kandyans.

In the dying stages of the game, substitute winger Dharshana Ettipola ran along the line before touching down mid right. Saliya Kumara failed to add the extra points to make it 44-0.

Aruna Rankothge refereed.