Dialog Inter Club League 2017/2018 Kandy march on

By Shamseer Jaleel 

Defending League and Clifford Cup champions Kandy Sports Club outclassed the Police Sports Club in a nine-try blitz at the Nittawela rugby stadium. 

Richard Dharmapala breaks through with lightning pace

Kandy in the end not only scored a bonus point win but also went past the half-century mark ending the game with a 61-20 win. Kandy accumulated their points through nine tries, eight of which were converted while the cops, who suffered their seventh loss of the season, scored through one converted try, one penalty try and two penalties.

Kandy opted to rest their skipper Gayan Weeraratne, Roshan Weeraratne and Fazil Marija for this game. Sandesh Jayawickrema put over a penalty for the cops but Nigel scored Kandy SC’s first try which was converted by Thilina Wijesinghe.  Kandy hooker Uchitha Jayasuriya scored the second try which was goaled by Thilina Wijesinghe. Kandy’s dashing winger Anurudha Wilwara scored two consecutive tries to have Kandy up 28-6 at halftime. Sandesh put over the second Police penalty.

Nigel Ratwatte scored his second try of the match followed by Dhanushka Ranjan, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Danushka Dyan and stand-in skipper Richard Dharmapala. Thilina Wijesinghe, who had a grand game converting eight tries, while the cops scored through a penalty try plus an Udara Surriyapperuma try. Sandesh Jayawickrema converted to take their total to 20 points. The game was refereed by Ajith Kumara.

Navy edges out CH in thriller

Navy, after losing out to CH in a close game in the first half of the season, took sweet revenge when they got the better of CH 27-24 in a game marred by flared tempers and a free-for-all as soon as the final whistle was blown.

Samuel Maduwantha drew first blood for CH with a penalty. Avantha Lee scored for CH. Thilina Weerasinghe put over a penalty for the sailors. Kasun scored Navy’s only try in the initial half to cut the deficit to 17-10 at halftime. 

After the turnaround CH scored a try through their skipper Rohitha Rajapaksa, with Samuel adding the extra two points. CH, who led 24-10, lost their grip of the game when they started to relax. Navy scored through Stephen Gregory and Lahiru Wishwajith. Both tries were converted by Thilina Weerasinghe, who levelled the game at 24 apiece. CH got a golden opportunity to score through a penalty but Madhuwantha’s kick fell short. Then came the penalty awarded to Navy SC in the dying seconds of the game when Thilina Weerasinghe was accurate with his kick to take the sailors through. The game was refereed by Irshad Cader.

A Kandy player wins the ball in a lineout against Police

CR edge out soldiers

CR won the return leg beating Army SC 24-17 at Havelock Park after the scores were deadlocked at 10 apiece at halftime.

CR scored through Tharinda Ratwatte, which was replied by the soldiers through a Pushpakumara try and conversion by the evergreen Gayan Salinda. Salinda took Army further ahead through a good penalty but CR hit back through an Omalka Gunaratne try. Tharinda added the extras to level the scores at halftime. After the turnaround former Royal Number 8 Supun Warunakulasuriya and Kavindu Perera scored tries which were both converted by Tharinda Ratwatte. Bulathsinhala replied with one try for the soldiers, which was goaled by Gayan Salinda. Army fought hard but ran out of time to score one more.

Havelocks win

In another game, Havelocks beat Air Force SC 34-18 after leading 17-7 at halftime. The game was hosted by Air Force in Ratmalana.