Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Monday, 18 February 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shamseer Jaleel
Havelock SC 28 points
Kandy SC 26 points
What a sensational win it was after many at commencement of the season wrote them off. Martis and his boys did the club proud to take them to the top spot after the conclusion of their 14 games in round 1 and 2 when they edged out the defending champions, Kandy SC, 28/26 in a thriller.
At the short breather Kandy led 19/7.
Havies missed out on Dushmantha Priydarshana and Dinuka Amarasinghe while Kandy lost out with Buwanaka Udangamuwa and Srinarth Sooriyabandara with injury worries.
Both teams displayed quality rugby early in the game with the up country team settling down fast. Yakoob Ali and Shehan Pathirana stood out with support coming in from Nigel, Ranjan, Dharmapala and Wilwara. Their fullback Thilina Wijesinghe was not at his peak. He was under pressure while many of his kicks fell in open area which allowed many Park club attacks, which put the Kandy three-quarters on the back foot defending most part of the second half.
Meanwhile for the Park Club, hooker Ajmeer Fajudeen and second rower Sharo Fernando stood out. Sharo as usual was lightning fast for the loose ball and in lineout won the major share for Havies. In three-quarter moves, Sandun Herath, Riza Mubarak and replacement scrum half Mithun Hapugoda stood out as usual.
Ganuka Dissanayake drew first blood for Kandy with Thilina adding the extras to give the visitors an early 7/0 lead. An intelligent Nigel kick bounced to his favour for Kandy’s second try. Tharindu Chathuranga try and Thilina conversion put the Park Club on a shock wave at 19 to nothing. Sandun Herath gave a glimmer of hope for the Park Club with a try and Riza Mubarak added the extras.
Soon after the turnaround Kandy went into a Saturday evening nap. Randy Silva dummied his way for the Park Club’s second try. Riza added the extras. Umesh Madushan try and Riza Mubarak conversion took the Park club to a 21/19 lead. As usual Mithun Hapugoda as done several times this season coming in late in the second half dummied his way for a dandy Havies try. Mubarak added the extras. Richard Dharmapala handed off many defenders to touch down with Thilina adding the extras. Scoreboard stood at 28/26 favouring the home team. With five minutes of play left Kandy did everything but score. Ranjan did some lightning fast running but Riza Mubarak saved a certain try.
Referee Tasuka Kawahara (Japan) did a good job with the whistle but appeared to miss out on some high tackles committed by both teams.
With this win Havies will play CR & FC in the first semi-final at Havelock Park while Kandy SC will host CH & FC at Nittawela. The winner of these two teams will meet in the finals. Only Havies and Kandy have an opportunity to grab the League due to the points earned in both first and second round will be added to the Super 4 encounters.
CR outclass Air Force
CR & FC 36 Points
Air Force 26 points
A superb second half rally took the Red Shirts into a comfortable 36/26 win after nagging behind at 7/19 at the short breather away in Ratmalana. CR who secured number 4 position will play Havies in one of the semi-final encounters in the Super 4 stage.
Air Force scored their tries though Parakrama Ratnayake (2), Raduva Kausoo and Praveen Charles (2) with Ishara Madushan and Nuwan Perera doing the kicking duties. Red Shirts scored their tries through Gemunu Cheethiya (2), Gavin Jayasekera, Kumara and Muller with Tharinda Ratwatte doing the kicking duties for the Longdon Place club.
Referee: Ishanka Abeykoon
CH manage to remain unbeaten in second round
CH & FC 24 points
Army SC 22 points
CH&FC who came back strongly in round 2 managed to remain unbeaten in round 2 ending their seventh match with a close 24/22 win over the Soldiers.
CH & FC will have a long drive to the Hills to play Kandy SC in the Super 4 semi-final encounter.
CH & FC tries were scored by Sudam Sooriyarachchi, Sathya Ranathunga, Niwanka Prasad and Samuel Maduwantha with the later doing the kicking duties while for the visitors their tries were scored by Sosivita Boila, Dinushka Talwatte, Rasika Abeynayake and Ashan Bandara with Gayan Salinda doing the kicking duties.
Referee: Priyantha Gunaratne
