Kandy Sports Club make it 10-in a row

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

A spectacular try in the last minute of extra time by winger Vishwamithra Jayasinghe helped the Ceylonese Rugby and Football club to score a thrilling 16-14 win over Kandy Sports Club on Saturday.

Jayasinghe intercepted a pass off a Kandy SC three quarter move and dashed through 80 metres to touch down under the posts to give Reza Mubarak an easy kick at goal and the Red Shirts their first win over Kandy SC since 2005.

But to the dismay of CR's supporters Kandy SC retained the Caltex 'A' division League Rugby Title for a record 10th successive year by gaining 0.5 points for losing within a five point margin.

Kandy SC obtained 35.5 points from 10 outings to edge out CR and FC who collected 35.00 from 10 games the closest the Red Shirts came to regaining the league title which has eluded them since 1998.

CR and FC must be regretting the missed chances. Full back Reza Mubarak missed three penalties within kicking range in the first half while flanker Danushka Perera 'knocked on' off a five metre scrum early in the second half with the goal line staring at him.

However CR's 'eight' came up with a sterling display to outplay their counterparts in the loose. Skipper Dushanth Lewke was a source of inspiration to his team-mates with his fiery loose play and was ably supported by Anuja Perera, Ishan Noor, Sharo Fernando, Danushka Perera and Roshenka Kodituwakku as the CR forwards dominated.

The set scrums were shared between Kandy's Achala Perera and CR's Anuja Perera but Kandy SC won the line outs eight times out of 10 with the duo of Sajith Saranga and Buddhika Thalagampola towering above the rest.

Kandy SC dominated the second half with their three quarters running the ball at every opportunity. Centres Pradeep Liyanage, Gayan Weeraratne and Winger Mohamed Sheriff tested the CR defence to the hilt with their daring runs but desperate tackling by the Red Shirts prevented Kandy from crossing their goal line.

Full back Saliya Kumara had a grand game. He relieved pressure with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch while also joining the line to form the overlap on several occasions. He also fired across three penalties including one from 45 metres out which resulted in Kandy losing by only two points to keep the title for the 10th successive year.

Thus Kandy SC bagged the 'A' division league title for the 14th time having first clinched the title in 1994 under the leadership of Indrajith Bandaranayake.

The lads from Kandy retained the title in 1995 led by Saman Kotalawela and two years later they snatched back the title under the captaincy of Lasantha Wijesuriya having surrendered it to CR and FC in 1996.

The Red Shirts grabbed the title in 1998 before Harris Omer's Kandy SC team won the 'A' Division League title for the fourth time in 1999 before surrendering it to CH and FC led by Ajith Upawansa in 2000.

Kandy SC led by Nalaka Weerakkody regained the Caltex 'A' Division League Title in 2001 and since than have reigned supreme to retain it for 10th successive year.