Kandy SC edge closer to rugby double
by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Corr. at Nittawela
Defending Clifford Cup champions took a step closer to annexing the
rugby double for the seventh year in running when they beat Sri Lanka
Army by 21 points (1 goal, 1 try, 3 penalties) to 10 (1 goal, 1 try) to
enter the finals of the Caltex sponsored Clifford Cup Knock-Out Rugby
Tournament match played at Nittawela yesterday. At half time Kandy led
13-10.
The Army though beaten put up a gallant display to drive fear into
the ranks of the champions through some power play and had the edge over
their opponents in both line outs and scrums. It was in the loose and
through some professional approach that Kandy was able to clinch the
match.
Once again Kandy's forwards were disappointing and they will have to
give an improved performance in the finals which is scheduled to be
played at Nittawela this Sunday against the winner of the CH & FC vs CR
& FC which is due to be played in Colombo today.
Army also should take serious note of one of their supporters who was
involved is an incident with a touch judge which resulted in the match
being stopped for 15 minutes.
Kandy opened scoring in the 6th minute of play through a penalty
fired by full back Nalaka Weerakoddy, Kandy 3-0. In the 10th minute of
play Kandy further increased their lead through a penalty put over by
Nalaka Weerakoddy. Kandy 6-0.
But in the 15th minute Army took over the lead when a five metre
scrum was won and look forward Nishantha Jayasuriya collected the ball
from the ruck and went over the blind side to score near the posts. Full
back T.A. Silva added the extra points. Army 7-6.
Kandy regained the lead in the 22nd minute when they won a scrum deep
inside Army territory. Scrum half Amjad Baksh pass to Sajith
Mallikkarahchi and centre Pradeep Liyanage sliced through to score with
the tackle. Weerakoddy added the extra points. Kandy 13-7.
At this stage Army's No. 8 Suranga was sent on 'Sin Bin' by referee
Pradeep Fernando for arguing. Just before lemons Army reduced the lead
through a 40 metre penalty fired by T.A. Silva. After the breather
Kandy's lock Pradeep Basnayake was replaced by Kapila Silva and hooker
Malith Silva by Anju Baksh.
In the 16th minute Kandy once again forged ahead when replacement
hooker Anju Baksh scored by the right corner flag off a maul. Weerakoddy
failed to add the extra points. Kandy led 18-10.
Before the kick at goal was taken play was interrupted for about 15
minutes when match officials refused to continue with the game alleging
an Army supporter had entered the field and punched one of the touch
judge. It took a lot of persuasion by the Match Commissioner Tony Amith
for the referee and the two judges to resume play. Amith also told the
referee that the game must go on and one more incident they could come
off.
A few minutes later Weerakoddy fired another penalty from a distance
of 40 metres to put Kandy further ahead 21-10.
During the dying stages of the game Kandy's winger Sanjeewa
Jayasinghe made a splendid 90 metre run slipping tackles and touched
down but this try was disallowed as he had stepped out on the way. |