Carlton Super Sevens Rugby:

Southern Sharks overall champs

Central Kings win second leg in Nawalapitiya:

S M Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent

Central Kings were the Kings at Nawalapitiya when they won the second leg of the Carlton Super Sevens by defeating Eastern Eagles by 31 points (3 goals, 2 tries) to 17 (1 goal, 2 tries) to clinch the top spot in the finals played at the Jayatillake Sports Complex, Nawalapitiya yesterday. At half time Central Kings led 14-7.

Match winner for Central Kings was Vidyartha College schoolboy 20 year Winger Kavindu Perera who scored three scintillating tries one of which was a 75 metre effort which bemused the Eastern Eagles defence. The other two tries were scored by Centre Saliya Handapangoda for Eastern Eagles Skipper Shenal Dias, Thusitha Samaratillake and Rehan Thiyagaraja scored a try each.

Priyantha Gunaratne refereed.

With this win Central Kings clinched the No 1 spot with Eastern Eagles the number two slot.

Though it rained the whole day and the ground condition was soggy but thrilling rugby prevailed and this rugby fiesta was snapped up by the rugby fans.

Southern Sharks lit their way to the third spot by defeating Western Warriors by a close margin of 17 points (7 goal, 2 tries) to 10 (2 tries) after leading 10/5 at the breather.

Southern Sharks scored their tries through Oshan Perera (1), Sashan Mohomed (1), Srinath Suriyabandara (1). For Western Warriors scored tries through Tilina Weerasinghe (1) and Mohamed Hilmy (1).

Irshard Cader refereed.

Sashan Mohamed-an old boy of Trinity College and plays for the Up Country Lions was the highest scorer of tries-nine in all and was given a award.

In the play off for the fifth and sixth places North Western Black beat North Central Typhoon by 19 points (2 goals, 1 try) to 7 (1 goal) at half time winners led 7-0.

Try scorers for North Western Black Gayan Liyanage (1), Danush Dayan (1) and Lee Keegel for North Central Typhoon Gayan Ratnage and Aruna Shantha scored a try each.

Northern Gladiators from whom much was expected put up a disappointing display yesterday to end up in the seventh place beating Uva Vipers by 27 points (1 goal, 4 tries) to 10 (2 tries) in the play off match. For Northern Gladiators Damien Ratwatte (2), Lahiru Weerasinghe (1) and Dharshana Ettipola (1) scored. For Uva Vipers Chamara Dabare and Chinthaka Samaraweera scored a try each.

Jaffna challengers finished last after losing to Sabaragamuwa Stallions 5-22.

Results of the matches played yesterday.

Central Kings beat Jaffna Challengers 28-12, Western Warriors beat North Western Blacks 14-12, Southern Sharks beat Uva Vipers 19-10, Eastern Eagles beat Northern Gladiators 12-10, North Central Typhoon beat Jaffna Challengers 29-7, North Western Blacks beat Sabaragamuwa Stallions 22-10, North Central Typhoon beat Uva Vipers 15-14, Northern Gladiators beat Sabaragamuwa Stallions 26-5, Central Kings beat Western Warriors 24-7, Eastern Eagles beat Southern Sharks 17-12. Uva Vipers beat Jaffna Challengers 38-7, North Western Blacks beat Northern Gladiators 17-0.

The above matches were officiated by Priyantha Gunaratne, Gamini Indrasena, Sarath Madugalle, Irshard Ariff, Irshard Cader with Gerald Rasiah, M S Dilini Wimalaratne and Rukshani Ariyasena as sub officials.

Overall winners of the tournament were Southern Sharks with Eastern Eagle as runners-up in the entire tournament.

Chairman of Nawalapitiya UC Nishantha Ranasinghe was the chief guest.