Kandy crush Police - 77/14

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent

Police Sports Club did not know what hit them in the second half as a fairly depleted Kandy Sports Club scored a massive 77 points (six goals, seven tries) to 14 points (one try, three penalties) win in their Caltex League Rugby tournament match played at Nittawela yesterday. At half time Kandy SC led 22-14.

What a transformation of fortunes it turned out to be especially in the second half.

With the Police putting pressure early in the match, a closely contested game was expected. But what happened was a massacre against a hapless Police side who appeared out of steam.

Almost with the kick off Police scored for left through flanker Mohammed Akmal. Stand off Harshana failed to add the extra points, but made amends four minutes later through a 35-metre penalty and the cops were in command leading 8-0.

Kandy’s recovery first came through a peach of a try by scrum half Roshan Weeraratne who sneaked through a fortified Police defence. Full back Saliya Kumara failed to add the extra points. Kandy 5-8.

In the 15th minute, Kandy took the lead for the first time when prop Kishore Jehan went over after the forwards had done the spade work.

Saliya Kumara failed to add the extra points. Kandy (10-8).

A 30-metre run by winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe ended in a try near the posts and full back Saliya Kumara added the extra points for Kandy to extend their lead to 17-8.

But a 30-metre penalty fired by Police stand off Harshana Wijeweera reduced the lead to 11-17.

Flanker Buddhi Talagampola who replaced acting Skipper Dilip Selvam who was injured made his presence felt immediately when he scored off a maul and this try went unconverted. Kandy led 22-11.

Another Harshana Wijeweera penalty for Police saw them reduce the lead to 14-22 by the breather.

The stage was set for a bruising second half but that was never to be as Kandy went on the rampage and amassed 48 points during the last 30 minutes of play while reducing the Police team to virtual bystanders.

Kandy scored five goals and four tries in the second half through winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe (3), full back Saliya Kumara (1), No 8 Sean Wijesinghe (1), prop Erande Swarnatilleke (1), winger Mohamed Jaffar (1), centre Chamara Withanage (1), centre Dharshana Ettipola (1).

Fly half Mohamed Sheriff goaled three tries and the other two tries were converted by Saliya Kumara and Dharshana Ettipola.

D. Nimal refereed.