Kandy Sports Club crush Army - 51/6

S M Jiffrey Abdeen, - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Defending Caltex League champions Kandy Sports maintained their unbeaten record when they trounced Sri Lanka Army by 51 points (3 goals, 6 tries) to 6 (2 penalties) at Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy yesterday. At half time Kandy led 24-3. Kandy Sports Club took the field without a regular full back and Mohamed Jabbar who usually plays as a winger manned the last line of defence. Scrum half Roshan Weeraratne played as full back in the second half.

Kandy opened scoring in the 10th minute when the forwards carried the ball deep into Army territory and scrum half Roshan Weeraratne scored mid-left but failed to add the extra points.

Kandy scored again in the 20th minute when the Army three quarters were spotted off side and referee warned Army’s centre Kapila Knowlton and awarded a penalty to Kandy who kicked to touch and No 8 Sajith Saranga scored off the line out. Roshan Weeraratne added the extra points. Kandy 12-0.

Army’s three quarters were again seen advancing too much for the fourth time and referee Pradeep Fernando had no hesitation in sending Kapila Knowlton to ‘sin bin’ for what is known as ‘professional foul’.

Soon afterwards Army’s prop Asoka Jayalal too was sent on ‘sin bin’ for unwarranted play and the soldiers were reduced to 13 men on the field at this stage. Kandy forged ahead in the 30th minute when No 8 Sajith Saranga broke off a scrum and touched down mid-right. Roshan Weeraratne’s kick was off target. Kandy 17-0.

Six minutes later Kandy’s three quarters moved the ball and centre Amila Bandara sent a short pass to stand of Fazil Marija who ran near 30 metres to score by the right post and added the extra points himself. Kandy 24-0.

Almost on the stroke of the short blast Army reduced the lead through a penalty put over by Kapila Knowlton.

Kandy increased their tally in the fifth minute of the second half when fly half Fazil Marija covered some distance and sent a long pass to full back Mohomed Jabbar who zig zagged his way to score by the left corner flag. Marija failed with a difficult kick at goal. Kandy 29-3.

A few minutes later Army reduced the lead through a 40 metre penalty converted by Kapila Knowlton.

Kandy’s scoring machine went into action in the last 10 minutes of play to top the half century mark for the first time this season.

In the 30th minute a brilliant cross kick from right flank to left flank by stand off Fazil Marija ended in winger Mohamed Jabbar scoring mid-right. This try went unconverted. Kandy 34-6.

Two minutes later No 8 Sajith Saranga powered his way to score under the post and Fazil Marija added the extra points. Kandy 41-6.

In the 35th minute Kandy once again moved the ball and winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe pierced through Army’s defence with a brilliant run to score mid-right. Full back Roshan Weeraratne failed to add the extra points. Kandy 41-6.

In the dying stages of the game stand off Fazil Marija round off a fine game for Kandy when he cut through the Army fortress to score mid-left. This try too went unconverted.

Pradeep Fernando refereed.