Kandy fight back to beat Navy - 28/16

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent

The defending League Champions Kandy Sports Club kept their chances alive of retaining the league title for the tenth successive year when they beat Navy by 28 points (one goal, one penalty goal, one try three penalties) to 16 (one goal three penalties) in their return match of the Caltex League Rugby Tournament played before a large crowd at Nittawela yesterday. At half time Navy led 13-11.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa also graced the occasion to witness the match and the Navy team had in their ranks in the latter part as No. 8 former Thomian rugby captain and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

In the 11th minute Kandy Sports Club kept the scoreboard moving when Navy were penalised for going over the top and Kandy's full back Saliya Kumara made no mistake with the 35 metre penalty kick at goal. Kandy led 3/0.

Five minutes later an over enthusiastic Navy team was again penalised for playing from an off side position in the rucks. Full back Saliya Kumara kicked correctly to increase Kandy's lead to 6-0.

In the 27th minute Navy made their first scoring when Kandy were penalised for killing the ball and fly half Dev Anand converted the 35 metre penalty Navy 6-3. The first try of the match came in the 30th minute of play when Kandy were awarded a penalty deep inside Navy territory. Kandy's scrum half Prasad Chathurange taking a quick short tap touched down far left. Saliya Kumara failed to add the extra points Kandy led 11-3.

But in the 35th minute Navy reduced the lead to a single point through spectacular try. A desperate clearance by Kandy's Mohamed Sheriff was collected by Navy's scrum half Suranga Pushpakumara who ran over 40 metres and past at least eight Kandy defenders who appeared to be by-standers to touch down under the post. Dev Anand added the extra points. Navy 10-11. Almost on the stroke of the short blast Navy took over the lead when full back Nuwan Hettiarachchi converted a penalty from a difficult angle.

In the 14th minute of the second half Kandy took over the lead when their flanker Sajith Saranga made a daring run and fell over with the tackle far left. Full back Saliya Kumara added the extra points. Kandy 18-13.

In the 21st minute Navy once again reduced the lead through a 30-metre penalty put over by fly half Dev Anand. Navy 16-18.

But the sailors failed to consolidate their position and they virtually threw the game away through some unwarranted play. First their fly half Dev Anand was sent on 'Sin Bin' for a dangerous tackle and Kandy was awarded a penalty which was converted by Saliya Kumara. Kandy 21-16.

During the dying stages of the game when Kandy's fly half and skipper Fazil Marija was heading for a try was dealt a dangerous high tackle and obstructed. Referee sent the offending player on 'Sin Bin' and awarded a penalty try to Kandy which was goalled by Saliya Kumara. Kandy 28-16.

Henry Mason from Singapore refereed.