Beat Havelocks by 23 points to 12:

Kandy SC retain league title for 11th successive year

S M Jiffrey Abdeen, - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Defending champions Kandy Sports Club left an indelible mark on rugby League Championship when they won it for a record 11th successive year by defeating Havelocks Sports Club by a good margin of 23 points (one goal, two tries, two penalties) to 12 (one goal, one try) in the final game of the Caltex League Championship played before a large crowd at Nittawela yesterday. At half time Kandy led 15-7.

It was celebration all over as there was a fireworks display and Kandy players were carried shoulder high by their supporters. They danced and kissed the ground as if they had won a war.

But Kandy did not have things easy as the Havies gave them a torrid time and made them fight for victory.

With this win Kandy have aggregated 46 points, the highest by any club though six of the points earned by them in their match against CH and FC have been withheld by the SLRFU following an enjoining order but this win made it insignificant in the final reckoning.

The first points mounted on the board in the 16th minute when Havelocks three quarters after two earlier warnings were spotted off side. Kandy’s scrum half Roshan Weeraratne converted the 40 metre penalty from a very difficult angle. (Kandy 3-0).

Hardly had the cheers died down and a minute later it was that play-maker Fazil Marija who did the honours collecting a pass from scrum half Roshan Weeraratne he bemused the Havies defence by kicking ahead and picked up the loose ball and ran 30 metres to touch down under the posts. Roshan Weeraratne added the extra points. Kandy led 10-0.

But the Havies did not relent and they fought back to tie up the hard running Kandy’s three quarters.

They were rewarded in the 30th minute for their hard play. A penalty inside Kandy territory saw Havies stand off Sajith Bandara taking a quick tap and kicking ahead winger Chamara Withanage followed the ball which bounced near Kandy’s full back Tharindu Chanaka in the in goal area.

Before Kandy defender took notice Chamara Withanage had touched down for right and scrum half Amjad Buksh added the extra points for Havies to reduce the lead to 7-10.

Almost on the stroke of half time Kandy extended their lead to 15-7 when flanker Asitha Ratnayake taking possession of the ball powered his way to score by the right corner flag though a host of defenders tried to stop him. Roshan Weeraratne failed to add the extra points.

In the 7th minute of the second half, Havies scrum half Amjad Buksh attempted to loop around and slung a pass to replacement stand off Pushpakumara Perera who ‘knocked on’ and Roshan Weeraratne fired the 35 metre penalty which was offered. (Kandy 18-7).

In the 20th minute legendary winger Sanjeeva Jayasinghe made his farewell appearance for Kandy when he replaced full back Tharindu Chanaka and winger Dinesh Kumara full back to man the last line at defence.

Kandy scored again in the 26th minute when they won a line out and replacement scrum half Prasad Chathuranga sent a quick pass to hooker Achala Perera who scored by the right corner flag. Fazil Marija failed to add the extra points. (Kandy 23-7).

In the 30th minute Havelocks reduced the lead through a push over try scored by flanker Dilip Selvam and this went unconverted.

A point of interest is that all the tries scored by Havies were scored by former Kandy players.

Dilroy Fernando refereed.