Kandy outclass CH to book final berth

By Shamseer Jaleel

Kandy Sports Club put up a brilliant second half effort in front of their packed home fans on a steamy Sunday afternoon when they went passed CH & FC by 31 points (4 goals, 1 penalty) to 13 points (1 goal, 1 penalty, 1 drop goal) at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.

At the short breather it was CH who led 6/3.

CH settled well in the initial half playing some attacking rugby which kept Kandy to defend most part of the half. Unlike in other matches Kandy took plenty of time to settle and looked like a demotivated team playing lack of confidence after their defeats to CH and Havies in round 2. 

But come the second half and changing of ends did the trick for Kandy attacking towards the Club end. Return of Yakoob Ali and lightning paced Anurudha Wilwara was a bonus e trick for them. For CH & FC, Muthuthahthri, Yoshitha and Anuradha Herath stood out. Yoshitha returning to the side after his jaw injury which kept him out of action for nearly 2 months played his hearts out but limped off the fiesl late in the second half through a knee injury. For Kandy their prop forward, Yakoob Ali. Nigel Ratwatte, Ranjan and Wilwara stood out.

CH drew first blood in the 4th minute of the game when Samuel Maduwantha executed a neat drop goal 60 meters away. Samuel Maduwantha put over another penalty for the CH & FC to lead 6 to nothing. Kandy got their chance of scoring but it was a rude shock for their fans when Thilina Wijesinghe missed a sitter in front of the posts 30 meters away. Later on in the same half Thilina Wijesinghe was on target with a 30 meters penalty.

After the short breather through through a sweeping three quarter move Richard Dharmapala did the hard part by covering nearly 30 meters before passing it on to Nigel Ratwatte who touched down. Thilina added the extra 2 points. Then it was the lightning pace of wilwara who touched down left corner after covering nearly 40 meters. Thilina converted from a difficult angle.

CH hit back through their full back Samuel Maduwantha who dummies his way for a try and converted himself to cut the deficit to 4 points But Kandy who had other ideas scored their last two tries through Nigel Ratwatte and Thilina Wijesinghe. Thilina converted both of them to give Kandy yet another chance against Havies in Colombo next week-end but this will be an away game for them.

Referee Charlie Brown (Singapore)