Kandy SC crush CH

S M Jiffrey Abdeen, - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Defending Caltex league champions Kandy Sports Club crushed CH and FC by 41 points (4 goals, 2 tries, 1 drop goal) to 19 (2 goals, 1 try) in their Caltex league rugby tournament match played before a large crowd at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy yesterday. At half time Kandy led 22-5.

Kandy did not have to stay long to open their scoring when in the sixth minutes fly half Fazil Marija sent a quick pass to centre Pradeep Liyanage who in turn handed to winger Mohamed Jabbar who covered 20 metres to come around and score near the posts. Nuwan Hettiarachchi added the extra points. (Kandy 7-0).

In the 11th minute full back Nuwan Hettiarachchi collecting a pass from Amila Bandara ran over 30 metres and slipped a pass to No 8 Sajith Saranga who scored under the posts. Fly half Fazil Marija added the extra points. (Kandy 14-0).

CH and FC dominated play in the next 10 minutes and put a lot of pressure on the Kandy defence and three potential chances of scoring went abegging. On two of them the ball slipping out of players’ hands when the goal line was just in front.

With play now switching back to CH territory and a series of scrums was seen and in one of them Kandy’s scrum half Prasad Chathuranga sent a quick pass to full back Nuwan Hettiarachchi who executed a drop goal 30 metres out. Kandy 17-0.

Kandy kept pressing and this resulted in No 8 Sajith Saranga powering his way to score under the posts. Fazil Marija missed a simple kick at goal.

With one minute to go for lemons, CH and FC reduced the lead when their forwards took play deep inside Kandy territory and hooker Parakrama Ratnayake went over the line mid left fly half Tuan Meedin failed to add the extra points. (CH 5-22).

The first 18 minutes of the second half saw some fine rugby with CH putting up an improved performance and restricting Kandy from scoring. CH’s scrum half Tuan Shamrock was sent on ‘sin bin’ for unwarranted play during this period.

In the 20th minute Kandy’s hooker Damith Dissanayake collecting a pass from Nuwan Hettiarachchi covered some distance before switch a pass to flanker Shashika Jaywardena who barged over to score under the posts. Nuwan Hettiarachchi added the extra points. Kandy 36-5.

At this stage Kandy made many changes and this slowed down their game a little.

In the 26th minute came the best try of the match when winger Mohammed Jabbar collecting a pass from Fazil Marija ran along the line over 60 metres, past six defenders slipping tackles to score by the left corner flag. Nuwan Hettiarachchi failed to add the extra points.

But CH fought back to reduce the lead. First full back Indika Udayakumara joined the three quarters and ran nearly 30 metres to score near the left post. Tuan Meedin added the extra points. (CH 12-41).

With play now drifting into injury time and CH’s hooker Prakarama Ratnayake pounded his way to score under the posts. Meedin added the extra points.

Charith Kodagoda in his first big game did a good job with the whistle.