Central Kings take Carlton Sevens trophy

Dilanka Mannakkara

It was another Central Kings affair as the Kandy leg runners up team of the Carlton Super Sevens massacred the Dushanth Lewke led Western Warriors team by 38-5 in soggy conditions in the Cup Championship final where it rained cats and dogs at the Royal Sports Complex grounds yesterday. Kings led 26-0 at half time.

The Kings were also adjudged overall winners of the tournament after their brilliant show throughout in Kandy and Colombo while Kandy leg winners Southern Sharks won the overall runner-up trophy.

The final which was played under lights was witnessed by a massive crowd unlike in Kandy and there were plenty of support for the Hill Capital team owned by Malik Samarawickrama and led by playmaker Fazil Marija. The Kings scored their points through four goals and two tries while the Warriors just managed to score a solitary try.

The Kings who were the favourites to clinch the title after Kandy leg winners Southern Sharks lost their way a bit lived up to their reputation with their star-studded line up with the likes of skipper Marija, Sherrif and All Blacks Sevens stars Zar Lawrence and Benjamin Botica who displayed their scintillating skills much to the amazement of the crowd. The Warriors who failed to win a single game in Kandy came out with some giant killing performances to warrant a place in the final but were outdone by the experience, skill, speed and flair of the Kings side.

The Kings opened their scoring through Lawrence who ran almost 70 metres to collect a kick from team mate Botica to score a magnificent try which was converted. (7-0). In the next minute man of the final Benjamin Botica displayed his international class as he raced from a Western Warriors scrum and ran 80 metres putting the entire Warrior defence into disarray and scored a breathtaking unconverted try. (12-0)

Then it was a moment that any Lankan rugby fan would have been proud of as the speedy Kings winger Mohammed Sheriff whistled his way through the Warrior defence twice in the space of two minutes to score two glorious tries which were converted by Botica. At half time Kings led 26-0.

Just after lemons the Kings tried to maintain possession and defended stoutly and as usual Botica made inroads as he ran circles around the Warrior defence and fell off a tackle, but released the ball, picked it up again and scored a splendid try once again. (31-0).

The consolation try for the Warriors came when their giant USA forward Bokhoven bulldozed his way to score an unconverted try in the next minute. (31-5).

In the dying stages of the game, Sheriff put some icing on the cake as he sprinted across to catch a booming kick by Botica to complete his hat-trick of tries. (38-5).

The Uva Vipers who did very well in Kandy to win the Plate Championship once again were in the Plate Championship final but were soundly beaten by a resurgent North Western Blacks team by 33-14.

The Vipers who led 14-7 at half time made too many mistakes in the second half. For the Blacks, former Sri Lankan Sevens skipper Pradeep Liyanage scored twice while the Kiwi sensation Rocky Khan and Fijian powerhouse Erony were the architects of the victory.