Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday, 27 December 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shamseer Jaleel
Kandy SC were one point behind with 2 minutes of play left, but reliable Kandy place kicker Thilina Wijesinghe was spot on with a penalty kick to help Kandy continue with their unbeaten run. Kandy won at last, 22/20, at Welisara.
Navy drew first blood through their skipper Thilina Weerasinghe’s penalty. Kandy replied through a fantastic try by their dashing winger Vishwamithra Jayasinghe. Thilina Wijesinghe added the extras to take the lead 7/3. Kandy scored their second try through Shehan Pathirana to rake 14/3 lead. Navy missed a sitter penalty by Thilina Weerasinghe but scored later on through Charith Silva. Kandy led 14/8 at the short breather. After the turn around, the Sailors settled fast and played a better brand of rugby. Mohamed Abzal scored with Chathura Seneviratne adding the extras to take the lead 15/14 favouring the hosts.
Shehan Pathirana scored his second try through a close play.
Dinesh Lakmal scored for Navy to reclaim the lead 20/19.
With 2 minutes left in the game, Kandy won a penalty and Nigel Ratwatte kicked it deep inside the 10 meter line of Navy. The line out was taken cleanly by Kandy but Navy panicked and conceded a penalty for illegal entry. Thilina Wijesinghe was on target with a win for Kandy.
Referee - Priyantha Gunaratne
CH end round one with a win
CH & FC ended round 1 with a win over the Cops 29/24 at the Racecourse grounds.
CH&FC scored through Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Jason Melder. Both tries were converted by Samuel Maduwantha.
Police reduced the lead through a Yohan Peiris penalty. They followed it up with a converted try by Kasun Suranga to cut the deficit 10/14. CH ended first half on a high note when Junior National skipper, Naveen Henakankanamge scored and Samuel Maduwantha added the conversion points and put over a penalty to take the lead further to 25/10 at the short breather.
After the turnaround, Sudam Sooriyarachchi scored a try and only then did the Cops shape up. Sachith Silva and Dhanushka Edirisooriya scored two quick tries to get back in to the game. Police piled on the pressure in the last 5 minutes, but the lead of 5 points by the Maitland Crescent boys were too much to overcome in that short time.
Second half rally takes Havies through
Havies maintained their number 2 position in the league when they pulled off a 31/24 win over the Air Force outfit, after conceding the lead 21/22 at the short breather.
Air Force soared through Praveen Charles (2) and Sudam Bandara. Iddamalgoda put over the 2 penalties plus the conversion kicks. Park Club tries were scored by Liston Flanty, Sithum Peiris, Chamara Dabare, and Azmeer Fajudeen, with penalty and try conversion taken by Prince Chamra.
